Geneva Mini-Ministerial
The mini-ministerial in July 2008 failed to reach an agreement on some of the issues under negotiation. As ministers regrouped to determine a way forward, SITPRO's CEO Malcolm McKinnon released a position paper explaining why a mulitlateral agreement would still be the best way forward.
Hong Kong Ministerial Conference
The sixth WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Hong Kong, China, 13–18 December 2005. SITPRO attended the meeting as a Non-Governmental Organisation.
A declaration including progress on trade facilitation was endorsed by the 149 member governments. The full text of the declaration is available at http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/ minist_e/min05_e/draft_text5_e.doc (Word 323KB) (Link to an external site - Disclaimer 
)and the trade facilitation recommendations can be found in Annex E. SITPRO issued a News Release welcoming the agreement reached in Hong Kong.
SITPRO's CEO, Malcolm McKinnon, attended the conference. His reports on the events of the week can be found in his Weblog.
The July 2004 Package
The July 2004 package was the result of concerted efforts to put the Doha Round back on track following the deadlock in Cancún.
Part of the package was an agreement on a mandate for negotiations on trade facilitation.
Further information about the July package can be found at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/ dda_e/dda_package_july04_e.htm (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ).
Cancún Ministerial Conference
The fifth WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Cancún, Mexico in September 2003. SITPRO's statement, released following the conclusion of the conference, is available on this site.
World Trade Post-Cancún Conference
Following the Cancún Ministerial, SITPRO, in association with the CBI and ICC.UK, held an International Trade Conference, on Tuesday 21st October 2003, to discuss 'World Trade Post-Cancún'. Transcripts and reports on this event can be found on the SITPRO website.
Doha Ministerial Meeting
Trade Facilitatation was one of the four 'Singapore Issues' included on the Doha Development Agenda, which was agreed at the fourth ministerial meeting in November 2001. The Doha Agenda focuses primarily on the areas most important to developing countries, such as agriculture and implementation issues.
You can read about the Doha agenda at http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ).
Singapore Ministerial Meeting
Discussions of a trade facilitation agreement at the WTO were first introduced at the first WTO Ministerial Conference, which was held in Singapore in December 1996. The ministerial declaration from that meeting can be found at http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min96_e/wtodec_e.htm (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ).
Return to Policy Development: WTO Issues
