“Ministers from G-20 will meet in Geneva on November 15 and 16 as we see a landing zone for the Doha Round,” Deputy Director General of World Trade Organisation Harsha V Singh said at a CII seminar here on Tuesday.

Mr Singh said in the wake of the ensuing US Presidential elections, WTO members are under a lot of pressure to complete at least the modalities for concluding the round by end of this year or early next year.

Modalities are basic and broad outlines agreed by the members to give and seek market access by reducing the duties in line with the WTO mandate for opening world trade.

At last mile

Mr Singh said with some forward movement taking place in the talks, there is a possibility for the negotiators to arrive at a result.

“Everybody is showing flexibility and is engaging. The members are hoping to meet the deadline and are making efforts in a serious way. While process of convergence is not easy, one can see some forward movement,” he said. Commerce & Industry Minister Kamal Nath said at the Fortune summit last week: “We are at the last mile. Where we are today, it is closer than ever before to closing the Doha Round. In next two months, I hope we will be able to find some convergence in it.”

Mr Singh said there has been movement in talks after draft texts on agriculture and non-agriculture market access were circulated in July. While text on agriculture did not see much resistance from members, the draft on industrial products was rejected by over 100 nations.