Multilateral fillip

Agricultural tariffs are also a matter of concern: in the agreement scenario, a country like India could end up making significant cuts in a "tiered" way, whereas higher tariffs require deeper cuts. Menon clarified this tiered formula of reducing tariffs was not a worry, for it would be linked to a tiered formula to reduce trade-distorting domestic subsidies of developed nations. As of now, there is no provision to cap maximum tariffs on each product; moreover, members can take certain products they consider sensitive outside the formula, so allowing some developed countries -- that have extremely high tariffs on a small number of products -- to get away with minimal commitments. A clear defensive victory in this area has been the introduction of "special products" and a "special safeguard mechanism" for developing countries. The former allows poorer nations to select a certain set of products and treat them differently from the formula, possibly even exempting them from tariff cuts; the latter enables them to take measures to guard against any surges in agricultural imports.

Other issues
cotton: A last-minute deal was struck between the us and four African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali) allowing them to pursue trade-related aspects of their specific concern -- a year ago, the four had protested against us cotton subsidies hurting them in the cotton market -- expeditiously through a sub-committee.

market access for non-agricultural products: The framework agreement is the draft of the text that came up at Cancun, except for one paragraph included at the insistence of the g-90. This group, largely comprising small and vulnerable developing or least-developed nations, has consistently raised the concern that they would have to cut their tariffs too much too soon under a non-linear formula -- contained in the framework -- that requires higher tariffs on each product to be reduced by a higher level. The paragraph inserted is a defensive one. It states that the framework contains "initial elements" for future work on the details, implying negotiations on all elements could start from scratch. At the same time, additional negotiations are required to agree on the "specifics of some (initial) elements". This could mean it is not the elements, but only the "specifics" within "some" elements, that need to be negotiated.

singapore issues: Of the four issues vehemently opposed by many developing countries at Cancun, negotiations have been launched on only easing custom procedures and costs (referred to as trade facilitation), but there are enough caveats to allow developing countries to move at a comfortable pace. The highly contentious issues of rules for foreign investment and competition have been dropped from the agenda for the duration of the Doha Round, as has the question of developing rules on transparency in government procurement.

services and development issues: The agreement merely extends deadlines on resolving development issues. On services, it provides a deadline for new improved offers to be tabled by May 2005 and calls for special attention to sectors and the modes of supply of interest to developing countries.