For Brazil, Doha’s Failed WTO Talks Are Still Very Much Alive

Brazilian ambassador Roberto Azevedo Brazilian ambassador Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo, the leading negotiator for Brazil in Geneva, stated that the Doha Round has not reached an end yet, and that the country aims to keep on "pursuing this window of opportunities," which may open up in September. Furthermore, he claimed, the success of negotiations will depend on political commitment.

"We have a short time span left for attempting to conclude an agreement before the year ends, and we were expecting to reach an agreement by December," he said.

According to Azevedo, political leaders are staying in touch, "mostly by telephone," to try and resume negotiations and to determine two issues: whether there is a solution to the issue of the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) for developing countries, and also whether there are other issues that might also lead to a stalemate.

"This is the aim of these talks: we are trying to find the answers to these two issues, so we can determine if it is worth making an extra effort in the coming weeks," he said.

The ambassador compared his role as a negotiator in Geneva to that of a marathon runner. "As a negotiator, I feel as if I am running a marathon whose course has not been defined yet. The race is on and you are running, but you do not know where the finish line is. At times you imagine that it is right around the bend, but when you make the curve, you realize that it is not there," he said.

"The Doha Round will only fail when the marathon runner decides to sit by the side of the road and say 'I quit.' As long as I am running, I am hoping for that finish line to come up. And this is where we stand," stated the ambassador.

During a press conference, he asserted that the hindrance to the conclusion of the Doha Round is of a political nature, namely the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) for developing countries.

"The SSMs posed a problem. India did not accept them, China did not either, and there were two developing importer countries defending them. And the exporter countries – most of all the United States – did not accept, and Australia did not either."

However, he does not believe the problem to be definitive. "My impression is that if we had another four or five days in Geneva, we would have solved this problem."

The ambassador does not agree with the idea of putting an end to negotiations now and then starting a new phase. "What we have on the table right now is no small feat, it is good; it a result that would be advantageous to the country, from our vantage point. If we are able to ensure these results now, it would be much better than to bet on an absolutely uncertain scenario, which I cannot tell what will be like within a few years, and which may result in a much worse set of measures than the one we have on our table now."

Azevedo also stated that Brazil is still negotiating bilateral trade agreements with India, South Africa, Gulf countries and the European Union, although some of these agreements are conditioned to the conclusion of the negotiation round.

"The EU negotiating mandate stipulates that they can only negotiate for a free trade zone with the Mercosur after they conclude the Doha Round."

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil Sugar Exports to Arabs More than Double

Sugar exports from Brazil to the Arab countries in September grew 122% in comparison ...

A Crisis of Low Self-Esteem in Brazil

Brazilians have the lowest self-esteem in Latin America. Only 22 percent of Brazilians say ...

Brazil’s Capoeira: Alive and Kicking in London

Some come into capoeira class, convinced they are about to learn a Brazilian version ...

After the Fall of 4 Ministers in 2 Months Brazilians Wonder Whose Head Will Roll Next

Brazil’s minister of Agriculture, Wagner Rossi, sent a letter of resignation to president Dilma ...

Brazil Goes to Sea to Get Electricity

The cadence of ocean waves can generate electricity, and Brazil’s first wave plant should ...

Gathered in Brazil, World Is Still Far from Accord on Genetic Resources

The first step has been taken, in Brazil, towards a future international system to ...

It’s Time Brazil Stops Blaming the Past for Its Corruption Epidemic

Brazil is highly known for its diverse and dynamic culture. This population is the ...

UN Urges Brazil to Ensure Human Rights to Its Indians

Despite some advances in their conditions and the Government's commitment to improve their situation ...

When Lula Was Rushed to Hospital Big Press Was Asleep. Blog & Twitter Saved the Day

On the evening of Wednesday, January 27, when Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da ...

Brazilian First Lady Marcela Temer and her husband - Beto Barata/PR

Brazil President Celebrates Women’s Day Reminding a Lady’s Place Is in the Kitchen and the Supermarket

Brazilian President Michel Temer delivered a speech Wednesday at his presidential palace in Brazilian ...