All these processes indicate that it is possible, at least under certain circumstances, to make pro

This was the rather broad theme of this year "WTO Public Forum", which took place September 24 to 26 in Geneva (see here). The issue is warranted, especially in light of the failure of concluding negotiations on the Doha Round (DDA). More than four years have passed since the WTO countries, huntsville al space center in July 2008, succeeded reasonably agree on the most important and controversial issues huntsville al space center in the DDA (specific market access for industrial goods, subsidies huntsville al space center and market access for agricultural and services trade). It fell on the goal line. Since then, all attempts at trades huntsville al space center - including a possible mini-packages in July 2011 - did not lead anywhere. The conclusion of the Ministerial Conference was as inevitable as it was painful: It is unlikely that a broad and comprehensive agreement on the Doha Round, in its current form, will be achieved in the near future.
Another reason for concern - if not crisis huntsville al space center consciousness huntsville al space center - is that nyprotektionismen increases. According to the WTO's latest monitoring report constantly huntsville al space center increasing number of restrictive trade practices globally and those that are in place for some time are not removed. Overall estimated that as much as 3% of world trade - or 450 billion USD - currently suffer

from various protectionist measures imposed after the financial crisis of 2008. And as the financial crisis passed to a debt crisis, a financial crisis and / or employment crisis in several huntsville al space center countries have the appetite to take to protect the domestic market. Trade policy is an instrument of an inward industrial policy. Free trade route is on the defensive. Which in turn further diminishes the prospects for progress globally to promote mutual economic exchange.
But it is both inaccurate and inappropriate to alarmist. Unsuitable huntsville al space center for it risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. It gives legitimacy to those who prefer inaction or are comfortable with the status quo. The talk of multilateralism crisis is taken as intäckning because you do not have to do anything. It's still running.
To say that the WTO is in crisis is also a rough, and in many ways inaccurate, simplification of the situation today for several reasons. WTO, namely, both an international

organization and a bargaining machinery. It is worth closer to scrutinize each of these parts before drawing hasty conclusions.
Firstly, with respect to the WTO by the organization, there are few who would argue that the WTO dispute settlement huntsville al space center mechanism (WTO 'court') fails. huntsville al space center Criticism so far - if anyone - has rather been that mechanism works too well. Add to that the WTO's monitoring function of its members' trade policy which, in many respects, is also a well-oiled huntsville al space center machine. Finally, there are many regular WTO working groups, committees and Council bodies to ensure transparency and the exchange huntsville al space center of views on various countries' trade policies.

Although in many cases these can be improved and WTO countries must be better at adding cards on the table on its trade, it's more about making improvements to the existing structure - not about a fundamental reform.
Secondly, concerning the WTO as a negotiating machinery and even if the effects of the failure of the Doha Round can not or should underestimate huntsville al space center the DDA actually not the only one hearing in the WTO. Since the Doha Round impasse has Russia's accession negotiations concluded. Russia to become a member huntsville al space center is anything but a small success of the WTO as an organization as well as negotiating machinery. And many, many other countries are queuing to negotiate membership. In addition, is already more important negotiations, which are outside the DDA among WTO members. In some cases, these have already been successfully completed, such as the agreement on the modernization and increased huntsville al space center market access in public procurement (which ended in december 2011), or it is continuing positive developments, such as the review of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and China's accession negotiations to the WTO agreement on procurement. In other instances, negotiations have begun in recent years, which might launch huntsville al space center a modernization negotiation of WTO telecommunications agreement (ITA) launched in May this year is of greatest importance to Sweden.
All these processes indicate that it is possible, at least under certain circumstances, to make progress in negotiations at the WTO. And it's not about peanuts. Russia huntsville al space center is not an insignificant huntsville al space center market, the agreement on public procurement has been estimated to provide new opportunities for a value of about $ 100 billion, and the modernization of the ITA (although the negotiations are in their infancy) described in terms of somewhere between 100-200 billion in increased trade.
So perhaps the theme "Is multilateralism in crisis?" More aptly and correctly, could be formulated as "DDA is in crisis". At least for the WTO Public Forum. Undoubtedly, the DDA a real crisis. It is also