Would it help developing countries for member states to agree to eliminate the generalised system of preferences?
Not really. I know that some countries have at times questioned the benefits that have accrued from the generalised system of preferences, but eliminating the system completely may not be the answer. What needs to be done, in my view, is to look at the experience of implementing the GSP and to then improve its efficacy. Do you think the full modalities in agriculture and NAMA could be met by the new deadline set in the Hong Kong declaration? Yes. Of course it depends on how willing members are to make the compromises necessary to reach an agreement. The Secretariat and the chairman of the agriculture negotiations are ready to hold meetings and consultations to help them reach an agreement and a lot of work has already been done . But some big issues like the size of subsidy cuts and market access improvements still need to be sorted out. When will you consider the April negotiations on agricultural products to be a success? When it is finished! And if the final result meets the mandate
