Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard to visit New Delhi for WTO Doha Round ministerial meeting
Bern, 01.09.2009 - Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard will attend an informal WTO Doha Round ministerial meeting in New Delhi on 3 and 4 September 2009 at the invitation of her Indian counterpart. The meeting aims to revive Doha Round negotiations and will bring together some thirty countries which represent the main spectrum of sensitivities at the WTO.
At the meeting, ministers will evaluate the next steps necessary to bring the Doha Round to a conclusion at the earliest opportunity. Particular interest will be paid to the views of the coordinators of the different groups of countries which represent the full spectrum of sensitivities to be found at the WTO. As well as reiterating the Swiss position on the main negotiation dossiers, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) will also speak for the G10[1], which represents the interests of the main importers of agricultural products.
The ministerial meeting in New Delhi should also serve to prepare the position of the G20 on the Doha Round negotiations at the meeting of heads of State on 24 and 25 September in Pittsburgh, USA. Recent ministerial commitments have demonstrated members' willingness to resume negotiations more actively with a view to concluding the Round at the earliest opportunity. It is a matter of urgency in light of the continuing economic crisis.
[1] Korea, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Lichtenstein, Mauritius, Norway, Switzerland and Chinese Taipei
Address for enquiries
Christophe Hans, Head of Information FDEA, Tel. +41 31 322 39 60
Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, Ambassador, SECO, Tel. +41 322 23 33
Publisher
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
