Overview

From the WTO perspective, the year 2001 was above all the year of the Doha Ministerial Conference, a turning point in the history of the WTO and in relations between developed and developing countries. In light of the tragic events of 11 September and its aftermath, the mere fact that the Ministerial Conference could be held at Doha, Qatar, in November 2001, must be seen as a success. That Ministers, in addition, could agree the launch of a new round of trade negotiations, is a recognition of the importance to the global economy of stimulating trade and development. It also brought to an end the uncertainty created by the frustrating failure at Seattle two years earlier. Last year was also one in which we concluded the accession of China, Chinese Taipei, Lithuania and Moldova to the WTO, welcoming more than one quarter of the world’s population into our membership.