Written by Egypt News

World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy on Tuesday warned member states that a serious assessment of progress toward a global trade deal was needed if an accord is to b...

Written by Egypt News      World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy on Tuesday warned member states that a serious assessment of progress toward a global trade deal was needed if an accord is to be reached next year "What is clear is that if we are to conclude this Round in 2010 as you have pledged to, we will need to take a hard look at where things stand early in the new year and map the road that would lead us to a successful result," he told diplomats representing the trade body's 153-member states. Launched in the Qatari capital in 2001, the Doha Round of negotiations for a world trade liberalization pact have been delayed by disagreements between developed and developing nations. World leaders have pledged on several occasions to conclude the talks but deadlines for a deal have been repeatedly missed. Lamy said an upcoming WTO ministerial meeting was a "unique opportunity" for member states to renew their commitment to the negotiations. "I think we agree that what is needed more than anything in the current economic situation is a platform for ministers to review the functioning of this house in its entirety and to renew their commitment to a strong, well-functioning multilateral trading system," said Lamy. "The DDA (Doha Development Agenda) clearly ranks among such issues," he told diplomats. "I see the upcoming ministerial conference as a unique occasion for the WTO membership to send a number of strong signals to the world with respect to the entire WTO waterfront of issues," he added. The WTO will hold a ministerial meeting between November 30 and December 2 but member states have agreed that it will not constitute a Doha Round negotiating sessions.