WTO 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Research Guide
This guide helps researchers find information on the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference and highlights past Ministerial Conferences.
Hong Kong 2005: A Short Guide to Researching the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference
Introduction
Under the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization , the Ministerial Conference is the topmost authority in the WTO governance structure and is required to meet at least once every two years. The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Hong Kong, China, on December 13 ‹ 18, 2005.
The main issue before Ministerial Conference was the Doha Development Agenda, which was initiated at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in 2001. The Ministerial Conference also discused agriculture and non-agricultural market access, farm subsidies, services, WTO rules and other issues. The accession of new member states was also discussed.
This guide is intended to help researchers find information on the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference. Additionally, the guide highlights past Ministerial Conferences and international trade research materials generally.
Key Resources
Here are the key online resources on Hong Kong 2005:
- WTO Ministerial Conference website
- Official Documents for the Hong Kong Ministerial
- Draft Ministerial Text (November 26th version)
- Draft Ministerial Text (December 7th version)
- List of NGOs eligible to attend the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference (pdf)
News, Commentaries and Other Web Resources
Below are selected articles, reports and commentary on the Ministerial.
- From Cancun to Hong Kong: WTO Update (Global Policy Forum)
- Ministerial 2005 Homepage (International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development)
- Trade Observatory - Links to independent podcasts from the 2005 WTO Ministerial (Radio Hong Kong)
- Lamy's Secretariat note on Development Aspects of the Doha Round (WTO News)
- Mandelson Offers Bleak Outlook for WTO Deal (Financial Times)
- The United States and the WTO Ministerial (US Dept. of State) Links to various speeches, statements and press releases.
- The 2005 WTO Summit (CNN.com) Links to a collection of CNN.com stories.
- Little Progress at WTO Talks Despite US Aid Offer (Financial Times)
- WTO Talks Hit Speed Bump Over Farm Products (CBC News)
- Resigned Response to Limited WTO Deal (Financial Times)
- World Trade Deal Reached on Farm Subsidies (NPR, All Things Considered)
- Commentary: World Trade Disorganization (International Herald Tribune)
Past Ministerial Conferences
The Hong Kong Ministerial Conference is the sixth in a series of conferences. Here are links to information on the previous conferences:
- Fifth: Cancún 10-14 September 2003
- Fourth: Doha 9-14 November 2001
- Third: Seattle 30 November - 3 December 1999
- Second: Geneva 18 & 20 May 1998
- First: Singapore 9 -13 December 1996
International Trade Databases
These subscription databases covering topics in international trade are available to the GULC community. You can also use them from off-campus. For a complete list of all databases, see Our Online Collection.
- World Trade Online
Immediate access to the latest in trade news. Each day's complete issue of Inside U.S. Trade, plus retrospective coverage going back 5 years. Also available: News from Around the World and exclusive special reports. - Worldtradelaw.net
Provides detailed summaries and commentaries on WTO Panel and Appellate Body Reports. Each document provides a basic summary of the panel's or Appellate Body's legal findings and conclusions, a timeline, references to other reports and materials, and expert analysis on many of the key issues in the report. There is also access to the full text of the Panel and Appellate Reports. See Dispute Settlement Commentary Subscriber Log-in Area to access the commentaries. - WTO Reporter
(BNA) Daily coverage of news developments from and about the World Trade Organization.
Books on Past Ministerial Conferences
Here is a selection of titles available at the Library on past Ministerial Conferences. Check the library catalog for future books on the Hong Kong Conference.
- Fatoumata Jawara and Aileen Kwa, Behind the Scenes at the WTO : The Real World of International Trade Negotiations : Lessons of Cancun INTL K4610 .J39 2004
- Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis, ed., The WTO, Developing Countries and the Doha Development Agenda : Prospects and Challenges for Trade-Led Growth INTL HF1385 .W7832 2004
- Mike Moore, ed., Doha and Beyond : The future of the Multilateral Trading System
INTL K4610 .D64 2004 - Dilip K. Das, Global Trading System at the Crossroads : A Post-Seattle Perspective
INTL HF1713 .D343 2001 - Gary Sampson, Trade, Environment, and the WTO : The Post-Seattle Agenda
Williams HF1379 .S253 2000 - Jeffery J. Schott, ed., The WTO after Seattle INTL K4601.6 .W76 2000
- Sean Leonard, The Dragon Awakens : China's Long March to Geneva INTL KNQ3405.L46 1999
Library Research Guides on International Trade
The Georgetown Law Library has written two research guides on international trade and the WTO. You may also want to consult our complete list of Library research guides.
Protesting the Conference and the WTO
Some of the organizations and sites protesting the Ministerial and the WTO are listed below. News articles on protests surrounding the Hong Kong Ministerial also included.
- Parody Site of the WTO
- High Alert, Despite the Relative Calm (The Standard)
- Hong Kong Police Confront Trade-Talk Protesters (NPR, Weekend Edition)
Revised January 2007 (aeb)
Links revised August 2008 (RAS)
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Key to Link Icons
- Georgetown restricted access
- Interactive tutorial
- On Westlaw
- On Lexis
- On Bloomberg
- PDF Document
