The US remained opposed to any language in the draft Buenos Aires ministerial declaration on the pre-eminent role of the WTO for furthering global trade liberalization as well as on the importance of development dimension in the Doha trade negotiations, said a trade envoy, who asked not to be identified. After the chair’s brief statement, the US deputy trade envoy Chris Wilson took the floor to inform members that the one member being referred to by the chair was itself, the South American trade envoy said. The US and the European Union (EU) also remained opposed to the status of the Doha Development Agenda trade negotiations as they reckon that the Doha negotiations no longer exist, said an African trade envoy who asked not to be quoted. “We also feel there might be differences on the perceived objectives of the Doha development agenda but there is no ambiguity regarding the steps to be taken,” India said. A large number of countries supported Argentina’s demand for the ministerial declaration.

Source: Mint November 24, 2017 18:22 UTC