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Hong Kong 2005: A Short Guide to Researching the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference

Introduction

Under the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization , the Ministerial Conference is the topmost authority in the WTO governance structure and is required to meet at least once every two years. The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Hong Kong, China, on December 13 – 18, 2005.

The main issue before Ministerial Conference was the Doha Development Agenda, which was initiated at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in 2001. The Ministerial Conference also discused agriculture and non-agricultural market access, farm subsidies, services, WTO rules and other issues. The accession of new member states was also discussed.

This guide is intended to help researchers find information on the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference. Additionally, the guide highlights past Ministerial Conferences and international trade research materials generally.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Wolff Library reference desk at 202-662-4195 or by email: intlref@law.georgetown.edu. You may also submit your question via this online form.

Key Resources

Here are the key online resources on Hong Kong 2005:

News, Commentaries and Other Web Resources

Below are selected articles, reports and commentary on the Ministerial.

Past Ministerial Conferences

The Hong Kong Ministerial Conference is the sixth in a series of conferences. Here are links to information on the previous conferences:

  • Fifth: Cancún 10-14 September 2003
  • Fourth: Doha 9-14 November 2001
  • Third: Seattle 30 November - 3 December 1999
  • Second: Geneva 18 & 20 May 1998
  • First: Singapore 9 -13 December 1996

International Trade Databases

These subscription databases covering topics in international trade are available to the GULC community. You can also use them from off-campus. For a complete list of all databases, see Our Online Collection.

  • World Trade Online
    Immediate access to the latest in trade news. Each day's complete issue of Inside U.S. Trade, plus retrospective coverage going back 5 years. Also available: News from Around the World and exclusive special reports.
  • Worldtradelaw.net
    Provides detailed summaries and commentaries on WTO Panel and Appellate Body Reports. Each document provides a basic summary of the panel's or Appellate Body's legal findings and conclusions, a timeline, references to other reports and materials, and expert analysis on many of the key issues in the report. There is also access to the full text of the Panel and Appellate Reports. See Dispute Settlement Commentary Subscriber Log-in Area to access the commentaries.
  • WTO Reporter
    (BNA) Daily coverage of news developments from and about the World Trade Organization.

Books on Past Ministerial Conferences

Here is a selection of titles available at the Library on past Ministerial Conferences. Check the library catalog for future books on the Hong Kong Conference.

  • Fatoumata Jawara and Aileen Kwa, Behind the Scenes at the WTO : The Real World of International Trade Negotiations : Lessons of Cancun INTL K4610 .J39 2004
  • Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis, ed., The WTO, Developing Countries and the Doha Development Agenda : Prospects and Challenges for Trade-Led Growth INTL HF1385 .W7832 2004
  • Mike Moore, ed., Doha and Beyond : The future of the Multilateral Trading System
    INTL K4610 .D64 2004
  • Dilip K. Das, Global Trading System at the Crossroads : A Post-Seattle Perspective
    INTL HF1713 .D343 2001
  • Gary Sampson, Trade, Environment, and the WTO : The Post-Seattle Agenda
    Williams HF1379 .S253 2000
  • Jeffery J. Schott, ed., The WTO after Seattle INTL K4601.6 .W76 2000
  • Sean Leonard, The Dragon Awakens : China's Long March to Geneva INTL KNQ3405.L46 1999

Library Research Guides on International Trade

The Georgetown Law Library has written two research guides on international trade and the WTO. You may also want to consult our complete list of Library research guides.

Protesting the Conference and the WTO

Some of the organizations and sites protesting the Ministerial and the WTO are listed below. News articles on protests surrounding the Hong Kong Ministerial also included.

Revised January 2007 (aeb)
Links revised August 2008 (RAS)

Page last saved 23-Sep-2011