SA to join informal Doha trade talks

South Africa is set to participate in informal talks involving a “rainbow of ministers” to reignite the Doha trade talks. Indian minister of commerce and industry Anand Sharma last week said talks were set to take place in Delhi on September 3 and 4 this year with the objective of re-engaging and re-energising the process, which has now been stalled for some time. The Doha Development Round, a trade negotiation round of the World Trade Organisation, aimed at lowering trade barriers around the world to allow countries to increase trade globally, started in November 2001 but stalled last year. South African Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies said Sharma had briefed him on the initiative and that South Africa would “definitely be participating in the process”. According to Davies a successful outcome of the Doha round has to be one that is faithful to the developmental mandate.