Broad agenda promises to keep poorer economies in focus

The WTO's 142 member countries agreed in Doha to introduce a round of trade negotiations, covering a range of issues including:

Agriculture: The WTO is committed to negotiations to improve market access, especially for poorer countries, substantial reductions in domestic subsidies for farmers and reductions "with a view to phasing out" all export subsidies.

The declaration states these commitments do not prejudice the outcome of the negotiations, leaving the way open for subsidies to remain for many years.

Access to Medicines: The WTO's rules governing patent rights will be interpreted so it does not impede countries acting to protect public health. This means poor countries will be allowed to produce cheap versions of expensive, patented drugs to treat such conditions as HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

But the meeting postponed until next year a decision on whether to allow poor countries export these cheap drugs to other developing countries.

Trade and Environment: The new trade round will consider the effect of environmental measures on market access, especially for poorer countries, and the impact on trade of labelling for environmental purposes.

But the EU failed to persuade other members to consider permitting the "precautionary principle" that would allow countries to ban goods suspected, but not proven, to be injurious to public health. Environmental campaigners welcomed the WTO's decision to consider subsidies to the fishing industry, which many blame for the depletion of the world's fish stocks.

Developing Countries: The WTO is committed to achieving duty-free, quota-free market access for products originating from the world's 48 least-developed countries. The organisation urges richer countries to increase trade-related technical assistance to the poorest countries.

Developing countries were disappointed at the failure to commit the WTO to granting greater access for textiles from poorer countries to markets in the developed world.

Labour Standards: The meeting noted work under way in the International Labour Organisation on "the social dimension of globalisation" but it stopped short of endorsing a formal dialogue between the WTO and the ILO.

Trade unions complained last night that the organisation missed an opportunity to tackle injustice and exploitation of workers in the world's sweatshops.

Investment and Competition: The EU persuaded the meeting to negotiate tougher rules on cross-border investment, particularly foreign direct investment, that were opposed by developing countries.

The WTO also agreed to consider the role of competition policy in the international trading system, emphasising transparency, non-discrimination against foreign firms and measures against "hard-core cartels".