Delhi meet to pave way for conclusion of Doha Round: Lamy

New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) Concerned over the "chilling
effect" of trade barriers imposed by certain countries, WTO
Director General Pascal Lamy Thursday hoped the Delhi
ministerial meeting would be the beginning of the "end game"
leading to conclusion of the Doha Round for a global trade
pact.

"I hope Delhi (informal meeting) can be the beginning of
the end game of the Doha Round," Lamy said in his interaction
with industry body FICCI here, hours before the meeting of the
trade ministers from 35 countries who have assembled in the
capital to reach a common ground.

It is only through a trade-opening global pact that
issues like distorting subsidies or generating market access
can be addressed, the WTO chief emphasised.

"Whether it is about generating market access for goods
and services or facilitating trade, the most efficient means
to achieve these goals today remains in the multilateral Doha
Development Round," he said.

Countries have increased tariffs, imposed non-tariff
barriers, besides initiating anti-dumping measures, he said,
pointing out "most of these measures are allowed under the WTO
rules ... but there is no denying the fact that they have had
some trade chilling effect".

Rather being a cause of the economic crisis, trade has
been a casualty, Lamy said, adding "WTO economists have
foreseen a decline this year of nearly 10 per cent (global
trade) in volume terms, it is the worst result since the end
of the Second World War." PTI RR
JVN