Lack of political will holding up Doha round

World Trade Organisation chief Roberto Azevedo on Wednesday said there was a lack of political will to conclude negotiations on the Doha Round, which aims to free up global trade.

Despite a deadline to agree on a work programme by July, there has been no real headway so far, he told reporters.

"At this point in time I think what is missing are political decisions," he said. Negotiations on the Doha Round began in 2001.

Azevedo said this was the message he took to leaders at the G7 summit in Germany, that they "need to get this on their radar because the time for political decisions will be coming very soon."

"So we are talking, we are discussing all these critical issues but at this point in time I must also express my concern because although we are now on a solution finding mode, we are still not converged and there I think is a problem."

Azevedo said "all the issues are back on the table" including the "three core areas: agriculture, industrial goods and services."
Source: AFP