Given the economic recession and fears of growing protectionist and nationalist tendencies there were different views about whether the Doha Development trade round, which has been stalled since July, would help or hinder a recovery.
Eirokomisāre Catherine Ashton izteica pieņēmumu, ka Dohas sarunas varētu ievirzīties jaunā gultnē, ņemot vērā, ka ASV ir jauns prezidents, bet Indijā maijā gaidāmas vēlēšanas.