WTO Announces Next Ministerial Meeting

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that the WTO will hold its seventh Ministerial Conference from November 30-December 2, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.  The theme of the meeting is "The WTO, The Multilateral Trading System and the Current Global Economic Environment."  It has been four years since the last Ministerial Conference, despite the fact that the Agreement Establishing the WTO states that such meetings should be held at least once every two years.  Chairman Matus stressed in his statement announcing the meeting that this Conference is not to negotiate the Doha Development Agenda - those negotiations are proceeding on a separate track.  Chairman Matus also stated that this meeting will be guided by "FIT" principles of full participation, inclusiveness and transparency. 

(cgb)