ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the factors that may create both effective and ineffective G7/8 summits in the area of trade. Effective summits may be defined as those that result in strong statements on trade that include political leadership, detailed language suggesting the way forward, and the personal commitment of the leaders. The Tokyo Summit was effective in that the leaders agreed on a common and detailed statement on the Uruguay Round. The Houston communiqué sent a clear and firm message to the negotiators that the political leaders had placed the conclusion of the Uruguay Round at the top of their agenda. Interest groups and civil society groups were vocal in emphasising the need for a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda and the necessity of G8 leadership. The Doha declaration provides the framework for the Doha Development Agenda negotiations and establishes a series of deadlines for several of the issues.
