Call for Lamy to step in after talks stalemate

Leading countries in the Doha round of trade talks asked Pascal Lamy, head of the World Trade Organisation, to broker a deal between them after a meeting of ministers in Geneva, July 2006 was deadlocked from the start. Ministers have failed to narrow their differences on the “modalities” or template agreements that are needed to compile detailed cuts in tariffs and agricultural subsidies, and members have asked Director-General Pascal Lamy to try to broker a compromise “as soon as possible”. Members also shared his assessment that the negotiations are now in crisis.

WTO: 2006 News Items: WTO News — DDA June/July 2006 Modalities: Summary 1 July http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/mod06_summary_01july_e.htm

---