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PRESS/348
14 August 2003
(03-4210)
WORLD TRADE REPORT 2003
New WTO Report Focuses On Questions of Development
The WTO Secretariat launched today the first edition of a new annual publication known as the
World Trade Report.  This report, conceived and developed by Director-General Supachai
Panitchpakdi, is intended to  make a contribution to the public debate on trade policy and themultilateral trading system.
"The World Trade Report 2003  seeks to deepen public understanding of pressing policy issues,"
writes Dr. Supachai in his foreword to the Report.  "The central focus of this year's report is
development. By explaining the origin of this issue and others and by offering an analytical
framework within which to address them, the Report aims to contribute to more informeddiscussion and a better appreciation of the op tions available to address policy challenges."
The 270-page report gives extensive examination to the Doha Development Agenda round of
global trade negotiations and states clearly that these talks hold significant potential for raising
levels of development in impoverished countries.  This is particularly true with respect to
negotiations on agriculture and non-agricultural market access.
"There is a powerful case to be made that enhanced market access for poor countries' products,
and greater equity in WTO rules, can bolster deve lopment efforts," said Dr. Supachai.  "This report
argues forcefully in favour of an intensified engagement in the global trading system by all our
Member Governments. Without this greater commit ment and leadership from governments, there
will be a tendency to postpone the difficult political decisions that must be taken if we are to havea successful Doha round and a stronger global trading system."
There are two sections to the report.  The first section titled "Trade and Trade Policy
Developments" focuses on three issues of topical interest:  South-South trade; non-oil commodity
markets; and regional trade agreements. On each  issue, the Report analyzes developments over
the last few years, highlights their implications, and draws a number of conclusions about theoptions facing governments.
The second section titled "Trade and Development" starts with a brief discussion of development
and the relationship between trade and development, and goes on to analyze in depth how the
Doha Development Agenda can contribute to gr owth and development in developing countries.PRESS/348
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As governments formulate their positions in respect of the many issues on the Doha agenda
requiring decision, Dr Supachai re minds negotiators that the effective pursuit of national interests
requires joint action around shared objectives.  "That means joint responsibility for an effectiveprocess of give and take," he writes. "Countries  hardly ever obtain everything they want in
negotiations, but it is deeply fallacious to see an outcome yielding no result as a better option than
one that might require hard work and patien ce, but offers something to all parties."
This report  may be purchased from the WTO Bookshop or through the WTO online bookshop.
END