The causes of the failure of the WTO negotiations in Geneva are the contradictions embedded in the negotiations cycle itself, and not the question of subsidies and protectionism, as it has generally been portrayed. By renaming this negotiation 'development cycle' soon after its opening in Doha, a new rationale has been sought, that has nevertheless proven highly counterproductive.

Tancrède Voituriez, economist at Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), is an associate researcher and the head of the 'Global governance' program at Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI). He currently works on international cooperation with respect to trade and development.

This content is published in French - Agriculture et développement : impasse à l'OMC