This snapshot, taken on 26/07/2008, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
 
 26 July 2008
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)
 
You are here:
 

Doha Development Agenda (DDA)

The launch

In November 2001 Trade Ministers from 142 countries launched a new round of world trade negotiations at the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference, in Doha, Qatar. The work programme that was adopted (known as the Doha Development Agenda or  DDA for short) envisaged a broad round of trade negotiations, with the needs and interests of developing countries placed at its heart.

The DDA mandate has been subsequently updated by two documents:

(i) the Framework Agreement of 1 August 2004, which captured progress made since 2001; in particular WTO members agreed to proceed with negotiations on trade facilitation but not with negotiations on rules governing competition, investment or government procurement; and

(ii) the Ministerial Declaration from the Sixth Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005.

The Sixth Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005

Overall the outcome of the Hong Kong Ministerial was disappointing. While it was good that talks did not break down, it is fair to say we wanted much more progress than we achieved. An agreement of a development package covering aid for trade, cotton, duty free and quota free access for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is to be welcomed. But this is no substitute for fairer trade rules, which will bring the majority of gains, where there was no breakthrough. However, the WTO Membership did sign up to a roadmap for concluding the round by the end of 2006. 

The benefits of an ambitious, pro-development round

The UK is committed to achieving an ambitious, pro-development outcome from the Doha Development Agenda as this will deliver substantial benefits to the global economy, and in particular to developing countries:

  • An ambitious outcome to the Doha round is essential for maximising the contribution of trade to poverty reduction and lifting as many people as possible out of poverty
  • It has been estimated that halving protection in agriculture, industrial goods and services could boost developing country incomes by around $150bn a year - three times the value of all aid budgets put together.
  • Analysis shows that the majority of the benefits from liberalisation flow to the country doing the liberalising, notably through lower prices for consumers and increased competition which generates more innovative companies.  Maintaining the CAP in its current form costs a family of four around €1000 a year, through higher food costs and taxes.  Multilateral liberalisation through the DDA will also create new business opportunities abroad for UK business. 

The UK’s overarching trade policy is set out in the White Paper on trade and Investment.  We are committed to achieving a fairer and freer trade system that increases global growth and poverty reduction and benefiting developed and developing countries alike.  This is founded on two key principles: a commitment to multilateralism; and making trade a lever for achieving our development goals.

Contact:

Response Centre
Tel: 020 7215 5000 
or   020 7215 6740 (Minicom)
Fax:  020 7215 0105
email:enquiries@berr.gsi.gov.uk   

© Crown copyright 2008