MPs to Address Bali Parliamentary Contribution to 21st Century Trade Agenda

Breaking the deadlock of the Doha Round could add about US$ 1 trillion to global trade, according to WTO. © Reuters/China Daily

Some 250 MPs will gather in Bali (Indonesia) on 2 and 5 December for the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (WTO), where they will discuss how to better contribute to the advancement of a long–term multilateral trade agenda adapted to 21st century realities.

The joint IPU-European Parliament event will take place alongside the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) from 3-6 December. The Ministerial Conference is seen by many as a make-or-break summit to revive the WTO Doha Round talks launched in 2001 to produce a global accord on opening markets and removing trade barriers.
MPs will have the opportunity to interact with ministers and senior WTO officials, including Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, who are directly involved in the negotiations aimed at breaking the Doha deadlock.

They will also convey to policymakers the need for a strong parliamentary dimension to the multilateral trade system as legislators are responsible for effective oversight of international trade negotiations and for scrutinizing implementation of commitments entered into by governments.

During the meetings, the MPS will identify priority tasks for legislators in creating a more transparent, predictable and efficient trade environment. They will also seek to agree on further parliamentary measures to address the trade-employment link, how to stimulate domestic demand and allow the multilateral trade system to work for the least developed countries (LDCs).

An outcome document will be adopted at the end of Parliamentary Conference, which is a continuation of the dialogue between legislators and government trade negotiators, including WTO Ministerial Conferences in Cancún, Hong Kong and Geneva.