NAMA / ITA / EGs

No Narrowing of Differences on NAMA

7 March, 2006
Senior trade officials of an 11 country group yesterday failed to narrow their differences on how to achieve 'ambitious' market access opportunities in the Doha Development Agenda industrials negotiations a result that could place this weekend's London trade ministerial summit in jeopardy, WTD was told.

A 'Small Window' for NAMA Modalities

7 March, 2006
Doha Development Agenda nonagricultural market access negotiations chairman Don Stephenson yesterday said members have only a 'small window' for reaching agreement by the end of April on what he called core elements of an agreement a formula, treatment of unbound tariffs and 'paragraph eight' flexibilities for developing countries.

Plenty of questions as WTO's NAMA negotiations resume

7 March, 2006
Negotiations on non agricultural market access (NAMA) will be taking place all this week at the WTO. Among the topics scheduled for discussion are flexibilities for developing countries, the link between agriculture and NAMA negotiations, non-tariff barriers and sectoral initiatives.

A Critical London Meeting

7 March, 2006
US Trade Representative Rob Portman and visiting Australian Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile agreed yesterday that Saturday's Group-of-Six ministerial meeting in London will be crucial to the timely outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (WTD, 3/7/06).

U.S. textile industry seeks sectoral in NAMA negotiations

7 March, 2006
A link to a letter from the U.S. textile industry calling for a sectoral on textiles under the NAMA negotiations. The proposal is for the complete elimination of tariffs in the textile sector. It was sent to the Chair of the NAMA negotiations in advance of last week's NAMA negotiations. Industry groups from Europe and the U.S. made presentations to WTO members to establish a sectoral on textiles. (Some are in favour of zero tariffs and others in favour of lesser tariff cuts). Apparently the EU convened the meeting as a way to intensify differences between developing countries (between those that currently receive preferences on textiles and those who don't).

The Simulation Results

6 March, 2006
Trade envoys from some major countries yesterday demanded the circulation of simulation exercise results based on the different tariff-reduction proposals in Doha Development Agenda market access negotiations for farm products and industrials, WTD has learned.

A Work Program for NAMA

5 March, 2006
Doha Development Agenda market access for industrials Chairman Don Stephenson on Friday issued a detailed work program to accelerate talks on the most difficult issues a formula for cutting tariffs, the treatment of unbound tariffs and flexibilities for developing countries (see related report this issue).

Updated Methodology for Ag and NAMA Simulations

28 February, 2006
Below is a link to the updated methodology for the agriculture and NAMA simulations. It includes the Argentina, Brazil and India (ABI) formula for NAMA.

Moving 'In Concert' in Geneva

23 February, 2006
Brazil is more than willing to come forward with an improved offer on reducing tariffs for industrials beyond its 54 percent cut already announced if the European Union improves its stance on agricultural market access and the United States further reduces its own domestic farm supports, said Brasilia's chief trade negotiator in Geneva yesterday.

Questions For a NAMA Text

20 February, 2006
The friends of ambition in Doha market access negotiation for industrial products led by the United States and the European Union on Monday submitted a set of questions to negotiations chair Don Stephenson suggesting how to finalize modalities by the end of April, WTD has learned (WTD, 2/20/06).

Big losses projected for developing countries from WTO's NAMA proposals

19 February, 2006
Developing countries are projected to suffer significant 'adjustment costs' as a result of reduction commitments in industrial tariffs under the Doha agenda. The costs, which will vary among different countries, include loss of output and jobs in some industrial sectors and loss of government revenue.

Imbalances in the Hong Kong Ministerial outcome

12 February, 2006
Doha opened the door in 2001 for correcting the iniquities and imbalances in the WTO agreements and Hong Kong provided an opportunity in December 2005 to take concrete steps towards this end. But the opportunity has been totally lost. The WTO appears to be set on the usual path of developed countries' pressure tactics and developing countries' weak submission.

Developing country group asks for policy space in NAMA talks

6 February, 2006
A group of ten developing countries at the NAMA (Non-Agricultural Market Access) negotiations has called for policy space for their national industrial development priorities.

Keep fisheries out of Nama, says Indian industry

6 December, 2005
With the WTO ministerial conference scheduled to start in Hong Kong from December 13, the Indian marine industry has sought removal of fisheries from the non-agricultural market access (Nama) negotiations.

Effect of the application of the Swiss formula on tariff lines and levels: Examples of coefficients from 5 to 200

28 November, 2005
a set of tables setting out data on how tariff lines will be affected by different coefficients under the Swiss formula in the NAMA negotiations.

Controversy Over NAMA Report

23 November, 2005
The European Union and the United States on Tuesday told Doha Development Agenda market access negotiations Chairman Stefan Haukur Johannesson that he should not have tabled figures for a tariff-cutting formula and 'paragraph eight' flexibilities for developing countries in his status report

State of NAMA negotiations 'bad and confusing', according to chairman

15 November, 2005
The state of negotiations in the WTO on non-agricultural market access (NAMA) is 'bad' and the picture is becoming more confused, according to the chairperson of the NAMA negotiating group.

Still Stalemated on Industrials

25 September, 2005
The United States and the European Union on Friday asked Brazil and India to agree to a 'Swiss' formula with two coefficients one for the industrialized countries and one for the developing countries to cut industrial tariffs

WTO members still far apart on NAMA

24 September, 2005
The differences among members on these issues were as wide as before the WTO's summer break, with the countries reiterating their known positions