1. The WTO General Council Special Meeting was held on June 25 and 26, 2001. High-level officials from
member countries attended the Meeting to discuss launching the New Round of Negotiations at the fourth
WTO Ministerial Meeting, which will be held from November 9 to 13, 2001. Mr. Choi Hyuck, Korea’s Deputy
Minister for Trade, attended this Meeting.
2. Most member countries shared the view that the New Round should be launched at the Doha Ministerial
Meeting. The US and the EU stated that launching the New Round is their common strategic goal.
3. Regarding the agenda for the New Round, the US changed its initial position, which was focused on
market access, to favor a broader and -balanced- agenda including investment and competition policy and
the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements. This flexible position increases the possibility of
reaching an agreement on the agenda.
4. As part of the efforts to launch the New Round, developing countries refrained from insisting their position
that the implementation issues must be resolved before launching the New Round. Considering these
situations, it appears that member countries are on the way of making a consensus for launching the New
Round.
5. However, although most countries emphasized the need for flexibility on the agenda, countries are trying
to maintain their initial position because main consultations on the agenda have not yet taken place,
Regarding this, consultations on the scope of the agenda will continue.
6. Based on the results of this Meeting, various consultations to launch the New Round at the fourth
Ministerial meeting will take place. Regarding this, there is a possibility of holding an additional Meeting of
similar form at the end of July or an unofficial Ministerial meeting before the Doha Ministerial Meeting.
Spokesperson of MOFAT
* unofficial translation