Several large subjects remain to finalize

What is your judgment on the State of the global economy, the WTO is a privileged observatory to measure conditions

There are signs of improvement, especially in Asia, but it is still too early to say that the world between in remission. Unemployment will increase, which will have important social consequences. The crisis has caused a decline in the volume of trade of more than 10 in 2009, which brings back us to the level of 2005. These are developing countries that suffer the most. They do not have the financial means to revive their economies and the international exchange remains essential to their development.

The ministerial meeting that opened yesterday will you allow to advance discussions on the Doha round, down since 2005

The Ministerial Conference is parallel to the negotiations of the Doha round. Will enable members to reflect on how the organization operates and how to improve its functioning on a daily basis. Ministers will of course have the opportunity to talk frankly to the negotiations of the Doha round and to discuss together how to reduce the differences that remain to conclude the round in 2010.

What are the countries and topics that block It appears that intellectual property and agriculture are the subjects on which it is difficult to find

The negotiation is well advanced and it continues to advance, albeit slowly. We have 80 of the road. There is a strong political will at the highest level to resolve the remaining 20, expressed by the heads of State at the Summit of the G20 in Pittsburgh. It seems feasible to me, we should accelerate the step.

Several large subjects remain to finalize. In agriculture, is still defining the parameters of the safeguard clause which will allow developing countries to limit the puffs of import of agricultural products. It is also concluded on the reduction of American and European subsidies for cotton and to define specific reductions on certain tariffs on industrial products. Is an open question to the designations of origin. Negotiation on services is not complete nor.

In your opinion, the financial crisis and the economic crisis of 2008-2009 caused dangerous protectionist behaviour

In times of economic difficulties, Governments are subject to protectionist pressures, especially when unemployment hits populations. The last report we published a week ago shows that protectionist measures have been overall contained. It is estimated that world trade affected by restrictive measures will only reach 1 in the worst case. The WTO has therefore played his role as insurance against protectionism.

The crisis has not shown finally that it faces the limits of a model of global free trade without protection For example, back to models of more local cultures and, in this case, it must protect the small local farms...

The WTO does not promote global free trade without protections. International trade is not without limits. It is governed by rules which are decided by the members of the WTO. The main objective of the WTO is to promote trade growth. Today, members of the WTO countries keep margin of manoeuvre to protect in particular in agriculture and this remains the case after the conclusion of the Doha round.

What is your judgment on the current proliferation of bilateral agreements between countries or regions

Regional integration promotes trade and to attract foreign direct investment, it is preferable to have a market of adequate size. It also allows producers to benefit from economies of scale that give them the possibility to produce higher value-added products and create jobs.

But the international trading system offers opportunities that do not exist in the bilateral or regional agreements. Doha round covers issues, such as agricultural subsidies or the anti-dumping, which are not covered in the regional or bilateral framework. Often, the bilateral agreements do not dispute settlement system offer while the WTO is one of the pillars of the organization.

In addition, businesses in the areas of transport, finance, telecommunications and information technologies operate globally. They need rules that apply globally and not a patchwork of different standards.