WTO: How the deal was clinched

Backroom diplomacy played its part in sealing a deal that almost fell through

By Wednesday, it seemed as if talks would collapse in Bali, Indonesia after commerce & industry minister Anand Sharma talked tough, rejecting peace clause in its present form.

Then back room diplomacy happened to see the deal through.

Sharma first met Indonesian trade minister Gita Wirjaw, who was the chairman of the WTO ministerial conference.

Then, WTO director general Roberto Azevedo, Sharma and his counterparts  from Brazil and  South Africa met.

There was a lull for a while.

On Thursday evening, Sharma again met Azevedo and Wirjaw. No breakthrough, however, could  be  made.

At night, Sharma again met them along with US Trade Representative Michael Froman.

In the meeting, it was decided to change the wordings of text to make things move.

Next day, Sharma called Prime Minister back home to get clearance.

With the text saying that interim measures on Peace Clause would  be there  till  permanent  solution is found, a deal was reached by Friday morning.

However,  by then, Cuba, Bolivia,  Nicaragua  and Venezuela threatened  to stall the deal demanding relaxations form US on freedom of transit under  trade facilitation agreement.

Heads of Department of these countries were again summoned by DG at 10 AM, Saturday (local time) and that's when it seemed a deal had been cracked with WTO releasing the final ministerial declaration post which the Closing Session was announced.

After almost an hour the WTO Bali ministerial conference-(MC) 9 was officially gavelled to order, a ceremonial way of closing a Ministerial Conference, which is the highest decision-making body of the WTO. End