These negotiations include agriculture, services, non-agricultural goods, the environment and WTO rules. In addition, it was agreed to continue discussions oninvestment, competition, government procurement and trade facilitation: with the decision on whether to begin negotiations in these areas to be decided later this year. Members are also examining in-depth the links between trade, debt and finance. They are also considering the connections between trade and the transfer of technology, especially with

and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 - trade has been identified as an important component in promoting development and poverty reduction. Trade alone cannot reach the sort of

development goals that are needed, but in combination with official development assistance, debt relief, good governance and the rule of law, trade is a vital element of any development strategy.

There is great expectation about the results of these negotiations, and for good reason. The World Bank's Global Economic Prospects 2002 report estimates that abolishing all trade barriers could boost global income by US$ 2.8 trillion over a ten-year period. Of this, developing countries stand to reap more than half

gains. Developing countries share of world trade has grown to around 30 per cent, and it could grow even higher. One way to promote this is by improving market access for products of particular interest to developing countries, such as agriculture and textiles. This one action - opening up markets - will make a huge difference to the lives of millions. This is a single example of a positive alteration of trade practices that have for too long hampered the development of poor countries' trade.

Particular efforts will be needed to address the marginalization of the least developed countries - most of which are in Africa. For instance, the world trade share of sub-Saharan African countries was less than 2 per cent last year.

regard to the circumstances of small economies.

Intermediate deadlines have been set for specific areas of negotiation, but the overall final deadline for the completion of the negotiations is 1st January 2005.
The overriding objective in these negotiations is to ensure that trade functions as a tool for international 0development. Development, peace and security are inextricably linked, with trade having an indispensable contribution to make because it generates income and creates wealth and jobs. At the Millennium Assembly in 2000, the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001, the Monterrey Consensus in 2002

of the gains, which, in turn could result in an additional reduction in global poverty of 320 million people by 2015. These are rough estimates, but they provide us with a clear indication of what is possible. Freer trade, accompanied by appropriate domestic macroeconomic policies and sound legal frameworks, will help poor countries to move out of poverty and onto the path of sustainable development.

MARKET ACCESS
The DDA is more than a catchword or a vague expression of shared sentiment, it offers the promise of real development

Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi