The Chairperson of the Third WTO Ministerial
Conference, US Trade Representative Charlene
Barshefsky, announced at the plenary meeting
held today, 30 November, the creation of
four Ministerial Working Groups on key areas
of the Seattle Ministerial Declaration. A
fifth group?on "systemic" issues?will
focus on membersf concerns about the way
the WTO works such as transparency and ensuring
all members can participate fully in WTO
activities.
Ambassador Barshefsky said that the Chairs
of these groups have started consulting with
delegations to establish a solid basis for
their work. Each group will be open to all
delegations and will report each morning
to a Committee of the Whole, chaired by Ambassador
Barshefsky.
She said that she will be working closely
with the Chairs and with Director-General
Mike Moore "to ensure the overall progress
and balance of the drafting".
The Ministerial Working Groups and their
respective Chairs:
1. Agriculture Trade and Industry Minister George YEO (Singapore)
2. Implementation and Rules International Trade Minister Pierre S. PETTIGREW
(Canada)
3. Market Access Minister of Trade, Industry and Marketing
Mpho MALIE (Lesotho)
4. Singapore Agenda & Other Issues International Trade Minister Alexander LOCKWOOD
SMITH (New Zealand)
5. Systemic Issues Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Gabriel VALDES
(Chile)
Co-Chair: Commerce, Business Development
and Investment Minister Anup KUMAR (Fiji)
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