Negotiating Group on Rules - Negotiations on Regional Trade Agreements: - Key Issues for Consideration - Communication from Australia

World Trade Organization TN/RL/W/2 24 April 2002 (02-2343) Negotiating Group on Rules Original: English NEGOTIATIONS ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS: KEY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION Communication from Australia The following communication, dated 23 April 2002, has been received from the Permanent Mission of Australia. _______________ BACKGROUND While the WTO recognizes the legitimacy of pursuing economic development through regional trade agreements (RTAs), the relevant disciplines and procedures lack clarity. Consequently, it has been difficult to assess the compliance of RTAs with these disciplines and the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) has been unable to carry out effectively its functions of review and oversight of the implementation of RTAs. Ministers at Doha therefore agreed to negotiations aimed at clarifying and improving disciplines and procedures under the existing WTO provisions applying to regional trade agreements