ABSTRACT
In this chapter I analyse the decision-making function of the WTO. I argue that the purely inter-governmental interest representation in the Doha negotiations, combined with the single undertaking principle that guided them, has led to a principal lack of high-level political input. Political leaders whose decisions have been needed for the trade negotiations to progress have not had the incentives to take an active part in them. Using a spatial model and qualitative (interview) as well as quantitative evidence, I argue that a persistent problem of the negotiations has lain in the insufficient political leadership and engagement in the negotiations. This problem has been further reinforced by the emergence of a vicious cycle where the continued negotiations impasse has been undermining the interest of businesses in the WTO agenda. Instead of providing new rules, the decision-making in the Doha round was stalled.
