Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to promote an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that complies with the mandate for agriculture, services and non-agricultural products of the World Trade Organisation Doha Round and implements the outcomes of the World Trade Organisation Bali Declaration in Open Working Group negotiations on the sustainable development goals.

As we have already made clear, the UK supports a target to promote an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that complies with the mandate for agriculture, services and non-agricultural products of the World Trade Organisation Doha Round and implements the outcomes of the World Trade Organisation Bali Declaration. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

The UK is a firm supporter of an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system. The UK is using its influence within the WTO to push for an achievable and pro-development outcome of Doha Round negotiations, whilst also ensuring full and swift implementation of the WTO Bali agreements.

The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.