The Doha Development Round refers to a series of negotiations and discussions that were initiated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2001 in Doha, Qatar. It is a multi-lateral trade negotiation process aimed at reducing trade barriers and promoting international economic development, particularly for developing countries.
The primary objective of the Doha Development Round was to address the issues of trade liberalization, agricultural subsidies, market access for non-agricultural goods, intellectual property rights, investment measures, and services trade. The negotiations aimed to create a fair global trading system that would benefit all member countries, especially those with limited economic resources.
However, the Doha Development Round faced numerous challenges and setbacks due to disagreements between member countries on various issues. These disagreements mainly revolved around the extent of liberalization required, agricultural subsidies, and non-tariff barriers to trade.
Despite its original intention to be concluded within a few years, the Doha Development Round remains unresolved and has been significantly delayed. The negotiations have experienced multiple stalls and deadlocks, as countries struggle to find common ground on contentious issues.
The Doha Development Round has been a subject of global attention, as its successful completion would result in significant economic benefits worldwide, particularly for developing countries. However, the failure to reach a substantial agreement has led some critics to question the effectiveness of the WTO and its ability to address the complex and conflicting interests of its member nations.
