In his report to the general council, outgoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) DG Supachai Panitchpakdi expressed regret that warnings, sounded over the issue of agriculture in March, have not been heeded.

He said that two meetings have been held by the TNC, in addition to an informal meeting, all of which were productive.

Yet, he said that they had taken place against the background of an unsatisfactory level of overall progress in the negotiations.

In April Panitchpakdi commented “we were just not making the progress that we needed to be able to reach our July marker in good shape, despite the very hard work that had been taking place across the negotiations”.

His finger, he said, had not hit the alarm button yet - but was hovering above it.

“The rather worrying overall picture at that time stemmed mainly from the fact that, in the Agriculture negotiations, we appeared to have stalled on the first difficult issue - ad valorem equivalents (AVEs) - which was having a knock-on effect in several other areas of negotiation.”

While subsequent meetings have been more positive, substantive progress continues to be limited.

There are now less than 30 working days left before the July TNC meeting.

At a meeting last week, Panitchpakdi asked members to be clear on what progress could be expected before July.

“I also informed members that, from my participation in various ministerial gatherings, it was clear that ministers were expecting more than just progress reports.”

As chairperson of the TNC, Panitchpakdi is expected, in July, to provide members with a good idea of the progress that has been made as well as what will have to be done to ensure a successful ministerial conference.

Determined to do this, Panitchpakdi has previously said that differences between negotiating groups must be narrowed.

“As much specificity as possible will therefore be required in some areas of the negotiations on the shape of the likely outcome at Hong Kong.”

Priority areas must be determined in a manner that allows the Doha Round to be successfully concluded.

Panitchpakdi stressed the need for urgency in agriculture negotiations.

Progress of negotiations

Panitchpakdi went on to highlight progress made in specific areas.

While some aspects of the AVE issue have been resolved, significant developments have been made in this area.

“I think everyone hopes that the special session next week will be able to start discussion of the complex and difficult set of issues related to agricultural market access.”

On the Nama negotiations, although the five proposals have had a catalytic effect, there has been no convergence yet.

Panitchpakdi hopes that progress in AVE issues will spill over to this, and other, areas.

In the area of services, Panitchpakdi has already warned of “the state of torpor that we risk falling into if we do not get more offers on the table, as well as substantive improvements to those already submitted”.

In other areas of the negotiations, discussions in the negotiating group on trade facilitation continue to move ahead on the basis of quite a number of new proposals, including from developing countries, which is an encouraging sign.

In the negotiating group on rules, a meeting on RTAs concluded last week, and the group will take up its other areas of work from today, on the basis of informal papers submitted for consideration at that meeting.

Despite an overall brighter picture, Panitchpakdi stressed this was not good enough.

“There continues to be a high level of commitment to achieving results at the Ministerial Conference which will take us into the end-game of the round so that it can conclude in 2006.

“But if we are going to be able to judge whether we are on course for this in July, we will have to make progress very rapidly indeed.”

Despite this, he anticipates that solid progress will be made.

“But, ultimately, this does not depend on me.

“Rather, it depends fully on you, the members, and the convergence you are able to achieve.”