WTO Decision-making Beyond the Doha Round: Getting to “Yes”

The general lack of progress in the Doha round has raised serious questions about the ability of this institution to carry out its core mandate and the need for reform has never been greater.

A number of crippling institutional challenges have been identified and are well-known. Among them is the increased unwieldiness or inefficiencies in the decision-making process due mainly to increased membership. Since any member can in principle block an agreement from being reached; the consensus decision making process has particularly come under the spotlight as a significant setback. 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 structural challenges that have dogged the Doha Round, what reforms are needed to revamp the WTO decision-making process? Does the WTO have a future as a premier body governing international trade relations? You are kindly invited to participate in this roundtable discussion led by Mr Nkululeko Khumalo who will present a brief and incisive study on reforming the WTO's decision-making processes.

A summary of the worskhop proceedings is accessible here [pdf]

The event is scheduled as follows:

Programme*

Chair:                         Tsidiso Disenyana, SAIIA

10h00 - 10h10          Opening and welcome

                                 Peter Draper, SAIIA

10h10 - 10h40          The Doha Agenda: State of Play and South African Objectives

                                  Xavier Carim, Deputy Director General, the dti

10h40 - 11h30            Discussion

11h30 - 12h00            "Revamping Decision-Making in the WTO"

                                   Nkululeko Khumalo, SAIIA 

12h00 - 12h30             Lunch

12h30 - 13h30             Panel Discussion:

                                   Dr Edwini Kessie, Counsellor, Council and TNC Division, WTO.
                                   Catherine Grant, Trade Policy Director, BUSA.       
                                   Dr Mills Soko, Graduate School of Business UCT and member of
                                   the Warwick Commission.

 13h30 - 14h30           Open Discussion 

14h30                          Closure

* This programme is provisional, and subject to change without prior notification.