Negotiators Struggling At WTO Despite G8 Pledge.

"The G8's pledge to complete a new global trade pact by the end of next year has been met with caution and skepticism by negotiators who have seen a string of similar promises fail to deliver over the last eight years. 'Mismatch' was the word used by ambassadors Friday at the 153-member World Trade Organization (WTO) in comparing that promise to reality on the ground...." [Associated Press (7/25)/Factiva]

Reuters adds that "...the gulf between pledges and action is now so marked that it threatens the credibility of both world leaders and the WTO, Indian WTO Ambassador Ujal Singh Bhatia said.... Big trading countries such as the US are holding bilateral meetings over the summer break with partners to get an idea of what they can expect in a deal and push forward on specific issues. But Egypt spoke for many developing countries when its ambassador expressed concern that talks between two members or in small groups could lead to smaller countries being shut out of the decision-making process...." [Reuters (7/24)/Factiva]

AFP reports that WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy "...urged officials in Geneva to match these political pledges with practical progress in negotiations here and prepared them for a 'busy and productive autumn.'

'It is clear that for our political leaders we are now entering the end-game. Therefore we need to urgently translate this change in atmospherics into a clear path for engagement across the board in the negotiations in Geneva so that we can get to the arrival point on time,' he said...." [Agence France Presse (7/24)/Factiva]