The Geneva headquarters of the World Trade Organisation on Wednesday had the air of the morning after a party that had started well but ended in tears. Nine days of continual negotiations left the participants with metaphorical hangovers but, for once, little rancour.
The ministers departed for their respective constituencies all pledging that this would not be the end of the Doha round. But adding to the end-of-term atmosphere was the fact that for several leading players it was probably the end of their substantive involvement.
