MULTILATERAL: V&VI. DOHA ROUND & TFA

Question 1

the latest round of multilateral trade negotiations at the WTO, launched on 9-13 November 2001 in Doha, Qatar. It seeks to address issues of special interest to developing and least developed countries. Its aim is to achieve a major reform of the international trading system through the introduction of lower trade barriers and revised trade rules.

Answer 1

Doha Round, semi officially known as Doha Development Agenda (DDA)

Question 2

The main areas of negotiation of the DDA:

Answer 2

(i) Agriculture;
(ii) Non-agricultural market access (NAMA);
(iii) Services;
(iv) Intellectual property;
(v) Trade and development; (vi) Trade and environment;
(vii) Trade facilitation;
(viii) WTO rules; and
(ix) Dispute Settlement Understanding

Question 3

Areas for negotiations in Agriculture in DDA

Answer 3

Market access
Export subsidies
domestic support

Question 4

2 stage tariff reduction on market access

Answer 4

harmonization
further reduction

Question 5

What is NAMA?

Answer 5

Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations aim to reduce or, as appropriate, eliminate tariffs, including the reduction or elimination of tariff peaks, high tariffs, and tariff escalation, as well as nontariff barriers particularly on products of export interest to developing countries

Question 6

Techniques for tariff reduction in the negotiations on NAMA

Answer 6

Linear reduction
Harmonization formula
Sector formula
Cocktail approach

Question 7

method whereby all tariffs, regardless of their levels, are reduced by an agreed percentage; was applied for industrial products in the 1960s during the Kennedy Round;

Answer 7

Linear reduction

Question 8

seeks to reduce high tariffs more than lower ones; was used during the Tokyo Round in the 1970s;

Answer 8

Harmonization formula

Question 9

aims to complete the elimination or harmonization) of tariffs in a given sector; was applied during the I-JR and 1997 ITA negotiations

Answer 9

Sector formula

Question 10

combines the three (3) techniques for tariff reduction to achieve more meaningful tariff reductions; this technique was used during the UR

Answer 10

Cocktail approach

Question 11

proposed by Switzerland in the 1973-79 Tokyo Round negotiations as a method to achieve tariff harmonization. It uses a single mathematical formula that produces a narrow range of maximum final tariff rates from a wide set of initial tariffs, i.e., no matter how high the original tariffs are. The final tariff rates are reached through equal annual reductions

Answer 11

Swiss Formula

Question 12

effects of the Swiss Formula

Answer 12

Swiss Formula would result in harmonization within schedules, but not necessarily across schedules. If a single coefficient is used for all Members, harmonization across schedules would be achieved, but this would also mean that there would be higher average cuts for schedules with higher tariff rates

Question 13

used as the base rates in the Swiss Formula

Answer 13

bound rates

Question 14

The Swiss Formula would be used to calculate the bound rates of previously ________________________

Answer 14

unbound tariff lines

Question 15

first multilateral trade agreement to be concluded since the establishment of the WTO.

Answer 15

Trade Facilitation Agreement

Question 16

contains provisions for expediting the movement, release, and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.

Answer 16

Trade Facilitation Agreement

Question 17

When did the Trade Facilitation Agreement enter into force?

Answer 17

22 February 2017 after two-thirds of the WTO membership completed their domestic ratification processes.