From Development to Naked Self-Interest: The Doha Development Round has lost its way

Overview

With less than a week to go before a crucial meeting of the WTO General Council, the Doha Development Round negotiations have drifted off course. Instead of promoting the integration of developing countries in the world trading system, the ‘Development Round’ has been turned on its head: the focus has shifted from the development of poor countries to the pursuit by rich countries of their naked self-interest. The European Union, the United States, and other developed countries want a ’round for free’ for themselves and are expecting developing countries to foot the bill. As a result, the deadline for agreeing a first blueprint in July will most probably be missed, and the would-be Doha Development Round will move a step closer to failure.