G20's stake in Doha and Copenhagen

As recovery from the global recession has seemingly arrived earlier than expected in most major economies, the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers who met in London last week has had the luxury to make "exit strategy" a topic for discussion.

The group was right to agree that it is far too soon to begin unwinding the unprecedented stimulus measures that member states have adopted to fight the recession.

However, if it cannot put the revival of the stalled Doha Round as well as the success of the all-important Copenhagen climate talk firmly on the agenda of its meeting in Pittsburgh later this month, G20 policymakers will sooner or later find themselves preparing for a second stimulus plan to deal with a double dip of their economies. It is still unclear if the big bill of the first stimulus package is fiscally responsible for countries with huge budget and current account deficits. A second one will only make the case much worse.