Introduction

The Doha Round, which began with much ambition and great expectations as the ‘Development Round’ in the context of the tragic incidents of September 11 2001, has been suspended without agreement in June 2006. Notwithstanding the lack of agreement, a significant commitment to development was demonstrated. One example was the commitment to abolish tariffs for least-developed countries (LDCs) under the ‘Everything but Arms’ initiative within the European Union (EU) Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). Improved market access for agricultural exports from developing countries today appears more closely connected to conflict prevention than it was before September 2001. The Doha Round has the potential to contribute to raising standards of living and openness in yet-closed societies in certain parts of the world. Trade can stimulate economic integration between countries and cultures that have been in conflict – European economic integration after World War Two is an often-cited example for how trade can, in the long run, substitute aid which was initially provided under the Marshall Plan.

The ongoing round of trade negotiations, though currently on hold, is likely to survive and be shaped by the experiences gained from the previous round. The Uruguay Round, that ultimately gave birth to a bundle of new agreements and set up the World Trade Organization (WTO) – both unique achievements in the history of world trade – had to overcome many breaks and took eight years before it was successfully completed. Contrary to the claim that anything but a rapid consensus will harm the WTO institutionally, the delay is an opportunity to take a breath and rethink positions, constellations and potential areas for consensus building.