The WTO Cancún Ministerial (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Nov. 6, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RS21664 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Ian F. Fergusson, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Cancun Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization(WTO) broke up without
reaching agreement on the course of future multilateral trade negotiations. Negotiations on the Doha
Development Agenda have proceeded at a slow pace since the launch of the new round in November
2001. The immediate cause of the collapse of talks was disagreement over launching negotiations
on the Singapore issues, but agriculture and industrial market access issues were also sources of
contention. Reaction from the United States has been to focus on regional and bilateral talks, while
the European Union has undertaken a policy review of its position towards the WTO. The talks were
characterized by the emergence of the G-20+ group of developing nations that sought deep cuts in
developed country agricultural subsidies. This report will not be updated.
