In Brief
APEC trade ministers issued a statement today from Peru that they have ‘political will and strong determination to conclude the (Doha) Round…by the end of the year’. This is great on one hand as APEC has done a lot to help its members reduce trade barriers in the past and continues its trade facilitation agenda. Moreover, its members account for about half of the world’s trade. But, due mainly to differences between developed and developing countries on agriculture, the Round has missed deadline after deadline since its launch in 2001.
So what does APEC think it can do and what is so special about the timing now? APEC’s voluntary, non-binding nature works well for some things (peer pressure, experience sharing, setting best practice benchmarks) but its strengths don’t lie in forcing members to comply, enforcement or reaching agreements that are ‘one size fits all’.
There is hope though. APEC includes the US, Canada, China and Japan, and any progress in these countries will put pressure on others (EU). If there is indeed great political will among APEC members, or at least the larger ones, there is some hope of real progress. Also, India is on the doorstep, wanting to join APEC and there is potential for leverage to be used positively to reach an agreement with India (come into line with APEC developing countries on Doha and we'll let you in our club). It was American frustration at Indian posture in the Doha negotiations that kept the door closed to India in Sydney last September.
The APEC host country sets the agenda for that year and there is a real chance to get some great initiatives off the ground (like the structural reform agenda from the Sydney meeting last year). Or hosting the summit can be wasted on things like the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP ) which is likely to go nowhere soon. If all APEC countries can't agree on Doha, chances are slim. Let's hope that if indeed one of the main targets of this year's APEC meeting in Lima is for a Doha settlement, that it makes a difference to progress towards that goal.
Y Agree These filosofy posicion: “21 APEC economies have a solid position to let it know in the Doha Round to the G8 -WTO -UE we beleave on a Fear World Trade in all aspects, Agriculture, warming climate world, intelectual property, commers barriers gradual and others” We are making a turn on History Develomment. Y am thinking in a possibilily of entrancy APEC ne members: India, Brasil for the beginning”
APEC Arequipa Peru 2008 is making History
Sincerely yours Architect Cesar Zavala Toia mail [email protected]