The Doha Agenda, which concentrates on rules-based multilateral trading systems established through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (GATT/WTO), was launched at the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference in November 2001 in Qatar.
The Doha Agenda focuses on, inter alia, agriculture; tariffs and non-tariff barriers for non-agricultural products; investment, trade facilitation, and competition; electronic commerce, information technology, and telecommunications; and intellectual-property rights.
"It is incumbent upon all WTO members - particularly in light of recently resurgent protectionist rhetoric - to ensure that a positive momentum is regained so that the Doha Development Agenda can be put back on track," the statement said. "The slower the progress of multilateral trade negotiations, the greater the temptation will be for countries to resort to bilateral and regional approaches."
To view the full statement click here.