"Discussion at the current talks also revolves around the future of the Doha round itself – on whether we should continue in a similar way. It seems it does not bring enough sufficient results and we need to think about other methods," Karoblis said.
According to the official, the majority of WTO members were too optimistic about the ministerial conference in Doha and did not have a mature attitude.
"Now we need to continue on real tracks and go further – first of all, on rule-making. Secondly, on liberalization of trade in services. And thirdly, on the implementation enforcement, which is really necessary. Only if we have a proper mechanism of rules’ implementation, we can speak about the credibility of the system," Karoblis elaborated.
The Doha Round is the latest round of WTO negotiations, which was launched in 2001. The agenda's issues have long been the subject of debate within the organization, leading to a 15-year-stalemate, casting doubt on the organization's decision-making ability.
Lithuanians are the most enthusiastic out of all the European populations about the controversial US-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade deal, as they believe it will bring enormous economic benefits to their country, Raimundas Karoblis said.
"TTIP is one of the most important partnership agreements. We look on it in a very favorable way. Lithuanians are most enthusiastic European nation about TTIP – both in what concerns society and business. We are looking for the additional opportunities of market access," Karoblis, who heads his country’s delegation to the 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said at the event.
According to Karoblis, Lithuania’s small size means it cannot have a closed market. Its approach is to look for new export opportunities and demolishing trade walls.
The proposed TTIP deal, which has been criticized for its unusual secrecy, is opposed by many Europeans who claim that the pact would undermine standards and regulations on environmental protection, health and safety, as well as workers’ rights, among other points.
The 12th round of US-EU talks is due to be held in early 2016 with the aim of drafting the full text of the agreement before the end of the year.
US Trade Representative Michael Froman called on the WTO on Thursday to move beyond the Doha agenda.
It is necessary that WTO Ministerial Conference finds the way to provide better trade conditions for the least developed countries, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania added.
Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is currently hosting the WTO's four-day 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10), for which the economy ministers from over 160 states have gathered. The summit aims to define the course of multilateral trade relations for the coming years.
"There are chances to get some improvements of the conditions for the least developed countries. It is a necessary step, it is necessary to press on it," Karoblis, the head of the Lithuanian delegation to MC10, said.
He added that export competition in agriculture was the most sensitive issue at the conference.
"Here we need a full balance between export subsidies, rules on export credits for state-owned enterprises," the vice-minister said.
As Sputnik learned from a source at the MC10, differentiation between the developed and developing states is the most contentious topic at the talks.
The role of the World Trade Organization is not diminishing over the 15-year-stalemate in talks on the Doha Agenda, as the organization still provides basic rules for any trade deal and dispute settlement, Raimundas Karoblis said.
"We do not think that the role of the WTO is diminishing because of the difficulties of the DDA [Doha Development Agenda]. We need to look realistically on what is possible to achieve in the negotiations. WTO rules are the basis of all other possible trade agreements, even bilateral, and it is impossible to diminish their role," Karoblis, who heads the Lithuanian delegation to WTO talks in Nairobi, said.
The structure of the WTO lends itself to negotiating on new disciplines, Karoblis said, adding that the organization also had a very efficient process for dispute settlement.
Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is currently hosting the WTO's four-day 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10), for which the economy ministers from over 160 states have gathered.
The so-called Doha Round, launched in 2001, aims to address the needs of less developed countries in their economic development.
The agenda's issues have long been the subject of debate within the organization, leading to stalemate and casting doubt on the organization's decision-making ability.
