Part of recovery will come from opening up: WTO deputy DG

The Doha round of trade negotiations, estimated to result in additional $270 billion of trade annually, is nowhere near conclusion even after nine years of its launch. WTO deputy director general Alejandro Jara talks about the state of negotiations and what lies ahead for world trade . Excerpts of an interview with ET.

There has not been any negotiation between trade ministers at the WTO ever since they failed to reach a breakthrough in July 2008 in Geneva. Is interest in the round waning?

It is true that in Geneva we failed to achieve a breakthrough in the key issues of agriculture and Nama (industrial goods). Since then we did a lot of work in terms of better defining different options that are available and looking for consensus. This work has been very productive from a technical point of view and there has been constant progress. We expect that some time in the future there would again be conditions for ministers to meet and take political decisions to make progress in negotiations.

It has not been possible so far as there have been elections, frustrations and many other factors that make political conditions difficult. We are trying to facilitate (proper conditions). Perhaps we are going to find some time next year for ministers to meet. Also, it is not that the WTO is paralysed. All trade ministers did meet in Geneva last December, not to negotiate, but for a normal meeting.

Elections keep on happening. First there was the US Presidential elections and now we have the Congressional elections. How do you find the perfect time to push through a deal?

There is never an ideal or perfect time. There is always political interference because of elections. However, if one of the major stakeholders is changing governments, you have to give them time to take over responsibilities and take positions to allow them to sit with you on the table.

Do you think the global economic crisis in the last couple of years had any bearing on Doha negotiations?

The downturn has shown a couple of things. It exhibited the value of the WTO and the value of rules (in world trade). One has to appreciate that countries have not closed markets in the face of crisis and unemployment. It is clear that part of the recovery will come from opening up and through discipline. The easiest stimulus package that the government can now give is to conclude the Doha round as early as possible. It will open up new business opportunities and enhance trade.

With the US making statements on how emerging economies like India and China need to give more market access for the Doha round to progress, has there actually been any progress in the Nama negotiations?

I think we made progress because in July 2008 it was not possible to come up with a package at all. The US had then said that what was on the table was not enough. It is taking time, but privately and bilaterally they are meeting other countries and saying we want more in some particular areas. Also, if you want more, you have to give more. So we have a negotiation going on and we are doing fine.