WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/C/W/13
6 June 2003
(03-2980)
Trade Negotiations Committee Original:  English
THE DOHA AGENDA:  TOWARDS CANCÚN
Communication from Argentina, Bolivia, Botswa na, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Mexico,
Morocco, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe
The following communication, dated 4 June, has been received from the above group of
countries with the request that it be circulated to participants.
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I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Doha Declaration stakes out a comprehensive work program aimed at further strengthening
the multilateral trading system. At this stage of th e process, it is important to recall some of the
elements that enabled success at Doha and are still essential to bring our negotiation to a fruitful
conclusion:
• The centrality of the development dimension to the Doha package: Development concerns
cut through all areas of the multilateral trading system, and they are at the heart of the work
program. We need to make sure that the commitments we all made at Doha do indeed helpin better integrating developing countries into the multilateral trading system and into the
benefits accruing from it.
• The delicate overall balance of the package: In Doha, we agreed on a single undertaking that
has the potential to provide gains for all Members. Balance has to be sought across the entire
undertaking, without trying to isolate specific sectors.
To agree on the scope of the single undertaking, all Members made commitments; we all
need to abide by them, without attempts to dilu te or reinterpret any one, if we want a final
package that is generally acceptable and brings benefits to all our peoples.
• The importance of a transparent process: In order to bring the Doha Development Agenda to
a successful conclusion that further strengthens the multilateral trading system, it is essential
that all Members participate in the decision making process.
2. The following summarizes the key actions that, in our judgement, have to be taken at this stage in
order to keep and enhance the momentum of our work, with a view to the 5th Ministerial
Conference in Cancún.TN/C/W/13
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II. DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
3. It is essential to resolve implementation-related issues and concerns and the strengthening of
special and differential treatment before Cancún, instead of calling into question the basic
principles underlying them. Concrete results on the development issues will bolster confidence in
the process and thus have a positive impact on work in other areas of the negotiation.
4. We underscore the critical importance of trade-related technical assistance and capacity building
in addressing the constraints of developing countries, in particular least developed countries.
III. AGRICULTURE
5. Given its importance for developing countries and the need for significant results, agriculture
cannot be a self-contained package. This was acknowledged in the single undertaking agreed inDoha, and was indeed one of the main reasons for the launch of a broad negotiating round.
6. Reform of agricultural trade is of central importance for many developing countries.
• There is a strong commonality on the need to substantially reduce or eliminate export
subsidies and domestic support, including tighter criteria for the green box.
• It is equally important to discuss how to deal with market access questions in a way that
guards the legitimate concerns of developing countries.
7. We expect the establishment of modalities by Cancún, which should include the interests of all
developing countries. This has to be an essential ingredient of the negotiation and its outcome.
IV. NON-AGRICULTURAL MARKET ACCESS
8. We expect the establishment of modalities by Cancún, which should include the interests of all
developing countries.
9. Less than full reciprocity should be a central element of the approach to be agreed.
10. Additional emphasis has to be put on eliminating non-tariff barriers.
V. SERVICES
11. Progress to date has been moderate. There is need to increase the number of requests and offers
and, as a matter of priority, to resolve the horizontal issues.
12. The pace of work in this field could be boosted by positive results in other areas of the
negotiation.TN/C/W/13
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VI. RULES
13. The rules negotiation is a crucial element of the Doha package. Work should proceed in tandem
with that of other areas of the negotiation. Results in this matter will have a positive impact on the
effectiveness of the market access improvements agreed in the respective negotiating bodies.
VII. SINGAPORE ISSUES
14. In spite of intensive discussions, a large number of differences still exists on many of the subjects
identified for clarification in the Doha Declarat ion. In several areas, there is need for further
analysis.
15. Progress varies significantly across the four Singapore issues. Each issue should be treated
separately.
16. Any modalities to be decided, by explicit consensus, in Cancún would need to provide certainty
on the structure and precise content of negotiations.
VIII.  DISPUTE SETTLEMENT UNDERSTANDING
17. The end result of the exercise needs to strengthen the WTO dispute settlement mechanism’s role
of guaranteeing the balance between Members’ rights and obligations, with particular emphasis
on the needs of developing countries.
IX. TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
18. For many developing countries, one of th e most important achievements of the 4th Ministerial
Conference in Doha was the Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and public health. This
Declaration, which is separate from the work program agreed at Doha, has huge humanitarian
implications and a significant impact on how the WTO is perceived by public opinion.
19. The implementation of the last outstanding part of the Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and
public health, paragraph 6, needs to be solved before Cancún. We urge all Members to reach a
consensus on this issue, an important measure to build trust among Members.
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