The WTO meeting

The outcomes of world trade summits are largely determined in advance through negotiations between governments aimed at smoothing the way to broad agreement on the major issues. The World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Hong Kong next month will be no exception. But with just 36 days to go before it opens, crucial negotiations on opening up world trade remain stalled.

Failure in Hong Kong would undermine the pledge by the Group of Eight industrial nations to write off poor nations debt, double aid and end unfair trade. As Australia's trade minister, Mark Vaile, has pointed out, it is not enough to provide aid and debt relief when the benefits of liberalizing trade are so much greater.

With no agricultural sector of its own to speak of, Hong Kong has an opportunity to play the role of honest broker next month. It is to be hoped that host minister John Tsang Chun-wah, secretary for commerce, industry and technology, is right when he says: 'We'll have a deal.' --South China Morning Post, Hong Kong