WTO’s Lamy: Doha Deal in Sight after Modalities Agreed

The Doha round of global trade talks could be concluded within eight months after negotiators agree modalities on industrial tariffs and agriculture subsidies, the head of the World Trade Organization said.

WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said on Tuesday the WTO would give time to the United States to indicate its position and for India to conduct elections.

Lamy reiterated the so-called “modalities” of a deal to open world trade — the precursor to a full agreement — could be reached before the end of the year.

“As soon as possible, but I will not fix a deadline. I will reconvene ministers when I feel that the will to compromise is there,” Lamy told Reuters in an interview when asked about the timeline for concluding the trade negotiations.

“And then if we were to do this and cross the line, what we call modalities, the end of the round could be six or eight months ahead from that,” Lamy said on the sidelines of an infrastructure investment conference in Zambia’s capital Lusaka.

(Reporting By Shapi Shacinda)