November 28, 2007: Looking beyond the Doha Round: Has the WTO lost its Relevance?
The South African Institute of International Affairs cordially invites you to a roundtable discussion on "Looking beyond the Doha Round: Has the WTO lost its Relevance?"
Confidence in the WTO as the main forum for negotiating the reduction of trade barriers and creation of favourable conditions for international trade seems to have reached its lowest low. If nothing else, the failure of two consecutive Ministerial Conferences in Seattle (1999) and Cancun (2003), and the general lack of progress in the Doha round have raised serious questions about the ability of this institution to carry out its core mandate.
The proliferation of regional and bilateral trade agreements over the last few years is seen as a strong indicator that many key WTO members have lost patience with the institution. This has led to continued erosion of the key principle of non-discrimination which is supposed to be the cornerstone of the rules-based multilateral framework.
A 2005 experts report titled ‘The Future of the WTO: Addressing institutional challenges in the new millennium’ noted a number of challenges affecting the ability of the multilateral system to meet various expectations of its membership. Among them is the increased unwieldiness or inefficiencies in the decision-making process due mainly to increased membership. Since any member, no matter how small, can block an agreement from being reached the consensus decision making process has particularly come under the spotlight. At the same time it is acknowledged that the same decision making process is an important check and balance which prevents the strong from forcing through agreements that promote their interests at the expense of other members.
Considering the general lack of progress in the Doha Round, how sustainable is the WTO as a premier body governing international trade relations? What is the future of multilateral trade rounds? Has the WTO reached its expiry date?
You are kindly invited to participate in this roundtable discussion to be led by Dr Mills Soko who will present a brief and incisive study on the WTO’s future. Dr Soko is a member of the Warwick Commission investigating options for reform of the WTO.
The event is scheduled as follows:
Programme
Note: This programme is subject to change without prior notice.
10h00 – 10h10 Opening and welcome
10h10 - 10h40 “Reflections on the WTO and future international trade relations”
Mills Soko (UCT Graduate School of Business and SAIIA Research Associate)
10h40 - 11h10 Panel Responses (10 minutes each)
1. Paulina Elago, Southern African Trade Hub
2. Katua Lambrechts*, Christian Aid
11h10- 12h20 Open Discussion
12h20 - 12h30 Closure, then Lunch
* Invited
Download:
Presentation - “Reflections on the WTO and future international trade relations” by Mills Soko [.pdf]
Record of Workshop - ‘Looking beyond the Doha Round: Has the WTO lost its Relevance?’ [.pdf]
Press Coverage:
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=122330
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A643267
Date: 28 November 2007
Time: 09h30 for 10h00 - 12h30 (A light lunch will follow)
Venue: The Balalaika Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg
RSVP: by 14 November to Ms Judy Govender
Tel: (011) 339 2021
Fax: (011) 339 2154
Email: judy.govender@wits.ac.za
