CAIRO: Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid took part in the trade ministerial meetings Thursday and Friday in New Delhi, India. Officials at the meeting discussed issues pertaining to the World Trade Organization (WTO), particularly the Doha Round, the ministry said in a statement. In the statement, Rachid said, "The timing of this meeting is particularly crucial as the world deals with the impact of the current economic crisis which is seriously affecting how trade policies around the world are formulated and the flow of trade. The meeting hosted a large number of negotiating groups including the African Group represented by Egypt, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP), Small & Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), G-10, the Caricom, the Least Developed Countries Group (LDCs), G-20 and G-33. "The meetings are designed to facilitate discussion of issues pertaining to WTO, international trade, and the stalled Doha Round between various negotiation blocks, the statement read. "Egypt, an active member of the WTO and vocal advocate of the need for balancing the needs of the developing versus developed countries as a key to true trade liberalization, currently acts as the coordinator of the African Group and is also a member of the Arab Group, the ministry said. WTO Director General Pascal Lamy attended as well as United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk along with the Commercial Representative of the European Commission and trade ministers from Brazil, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Asian countries. At the meeting, officials discussed ways to get the Doha Round back on track and addressing suspended issues in the agricultural portfolio and the NAMA files. "This is the first meeting during which the Doha Round will top the agenda since July 2008, Rachid said. "This comes at a critical time due to the global financial crisis and the increasing protectionism trend that has emerged since the onset of the crisis. There seems to be the desire to finalize the agreement on the Doha but the fact still remains that in order for all groups to agree, there has to be a balance between the needs of all parties, both developed and developing. -Daily News Egypt
