06-3171  . /. JOB(06)/218  1 July 2006  
 
 
 
TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE 
 
Saturday, 1 July 2006 
 
Chairman's Statement  
 
 
 Let me start by recalling very briefly, for the record, that at an informal meeting of the TNC 
on Wednesday at the level of Heads of Delegation, we set out the immediate next steps in our process towards establishing modalities in Agriculture and NAMA on the basis of the texts that had been 
circulated by the Chairs of the two negotiating groups.   
  I also announced that I would be undertaking, in the course of the following few days, discussions in various formats toward s this end with the participati on of a number of Ministers, and 
that the process would culminate in a formal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee. 
 
 Since our last informal meeting yesterday morning, I have continued contacts with a wide range of delegations, including the ministerial cons ultative group.  I would like to thank all of the 
delegations, Ministers and Senior Officials who have  been present here over the past few days for 
their efforts.  I am grateful for their hard work , and for the constructive spirit in which it has been 
done.  In these discussions, I have also witness ed no acrimony around the table, which is a positive 
sign. 
  That being so, and as I have just informed you in the informal meeting, we remain far from 
the necessary convergence to be able  to establish modalities in Agriculture and NAMA, despite all the 
hard work put in by everyone.  We have tried hard , but have not managed to create the much needed 
landing zone this week that we had hoped for.  We therefore have to face squarely the fact that we are 
now in a crisis situation.  We are in the red part of the red zone, and it will now be more difficult to 
conclude this Round by the end of the year. Th erefore, since time is not on our side, the only 
guarantee of success is what so many of you have been asking for, namely the readiness of Members 
to exchange, to make concessions, that is, to nego tiate.  We know that a number of important players 
have to play a leading role in this process.  
 
 In the light of this situation, I do not intend at  this meeting to review the state of play in all
 
areas of our negotiations, with inputs from the Chai rs of the respective groups, or to update you on my 
ongoing consultations on outstanding implementati on issues, as we usually do at TNC meetings. 
 
 I propose instead that we focus on the current situation, and the next steps.  Although we must 
admit that we are in crisis mode, the situation is  not hopeless.  Over the broad scope of the DDA, the 
picture is by no means dismal.  Positive and subs tantive progress has and is being made in a number 
of areas.  However, the fact remains that all this effort and progress in a large number of areas are at 
risk and probably would disappear if the modalities ar e not unblocked.  I have heard good news in the 
very strong commitment from you to the  objective of  concluding the Round before the end of this 
year.  There has been total unanimity on this point, so the question is to find a way to preserve this 
chance of finishing this negotiation before the end of the year.    On the basis of the suggestions that have em erged in the informal consultations, and in the 
informal TNC session just preceding this meeting,  regarding further process towards establishing 
these modalities, I would like to propose that  we agree as follows: JOB(06)/218 
Page 2  
 
 First
, that in view of the crisis in the negotia tions, the TNC request me to conduct intensive 
and wide-ranging consultations with the aim of faci litating the urgent establishment of modalities in 
agriculture and NAMA;   Second
, that my consultations should be based on the draft texts prepared by the Chairs of the 
negotiating groups;  and  
  Third
, that I should report to the TNC as soon as possible. 
  In the light of a number of your observations, I want to be clear that these  consultations will 
aim at facilitating and catalyzing agreement among the me mbership in this time of crisis, and that you 
the Members continue to remain the main actors in  the process.  And these consultations, if agreed, 
will be pursued fully in keeping with the principle of a bottom-up approach, and respect for transparency and inclusiveness, which I think you know by now that I am very committed to, and 
which is, I believe, the way we have  been proceeding until now, and I do not intend to change this.   
 
 If there are no comments or suggestions I inv ite the Trade Negotiations Committee to take 
note of my statement, and agree to proceed in the manner I have suggested.   I will now close this meeting.   
 
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