This is indeed important news.
Some additional points
1. These are talks among a subset of the @wto membership—a “plurilateral” involving 65 of the 164 members—a negotiation among the willing. It’s seen as a way of getting around the consensus rule.
Who are the 65?
1/9
Some additional points
1. These are talks among a subset of the @wto membership—a “plurilateral” involving 65 of the 164 members—a negotiation among the willing. It’s seen as a way of getting around the consensus rule.
Who are the 65?
1/9
https://twitter.com/GeorgeMRiddell/status/1443156216520265730
The 65 participants are ⬇️
Latest to join: Singapore
The US is not listed but is reported to be ready to join.
2/9 wto.org/english/news_e…
Latest to join: Singapore
The US is not listed but is reported to be ready to join.
2/9 wto.org/english/news_e…
2. There has been some opposition from India, South Africa and some others who complain that deals among only some members violate the “multilateral” principle of the WTO.
But may be difficult for them to block this one. It all depends on the details
3/9 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/02/22/ind…
But may be difficult for them to block this one. It all depends on the details
3/9 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/02/22/ind…
3. The idea is for each participant to make specific commitments on domestic regulation in documents known as “schedules”
These are then added to their existing “schedules” of commitments in services.
This avoids writing new rules, new or amended WTO agreements.
4/9
These are then added to their existing “schedules” of commitments in services.
This avoids writing new rules, new or amended WTO agreements.
4/9
New rules (agreements) require a consensus of the membership to agree to add them to existing agreements.
New commitments from individual countries are different. Effectively they are unilateral although limited opposition is possible
5/9
New commitments from individual countries are different. Effectively they are unilateral although limited opposition is possible
5/9
The idea is that individual countries’ specific commitments should not discriminate between WTO members (known as “MFN”).
So long as these new commitments do not discriminate, there should be no problems.
6/9 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2018/07/28/a-r…
So long as these new commitments do not discriminate, there should be no problems.
6/9 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2018/07/28/a-r…
But the devil is in the detail.
We don’t know yet what countries are proposing in their specific commitments. For now, they are restricted (secret) “indicative draft schedule(s) of commitments”
We can only hope non-discrimination is not an issue.
7/9 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/F…
We don’t know yet what countries are proposing in their specific commitments. For now, they are restricted (secret) “indicative draft schedule(s) of commitments”
We can only hope non-discrimination is not an issue.
7/9 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/F…
4. That said, there ARE new rules.
Not a formal new agreement, but a chairperson’s “reference paper”, which thankfully is a public document.
The idea seems to be to write this into individual countries’ commitments without adding to WTO agreements
8/9 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…
Not a formal new agreement, but a chairperson’s “reference paper”, which thankfully is a public document.
The idea seems to be to write this into individual countries’ commitments without adding to WTO agreements
8/9 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…
5. The proposed commitments will be discussed over the next 2 months aiming for agreement by the Nov 30–Dec3 Ministerial Conference.
For now they are on track to succeed. We shall see.
With so much “restricted” it’s difficult to assess content
9/9 wto.org/english/news_e…
For now they are on track to succeed. We shall see.
With so much “restricted” it’s difficult to assess content
9/9 wto.org/english/news_e…
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