THE NEXT ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation is due to be held in Hong Kong on an as yet unspecified date. The timing has not yet been decided, but postponed, according to commentators, until a clearer picture of what happens next in the Doha Development Agenda talks emerge. But the ministerial conferences have to be held at least once every two years, according to the WTO constitution. And, with the last conference in Cancœn, Mexico, having been held on September 10-14 this year, the next must be held before the end of 2005 if it is to comply.
