At the 7th WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled for November 30-December 2, 2009, the LDC members will also raise a strong voice for the elimination of all forms of non-tariff barriers on their exports and extend meaningful aid for trade and technical assistances to the LDCs.
The group that met in Dar Es Salaam on October 14-16 as a part of the WTO Ministerial preparatory exercise has adopted a 84-point declaration, which represents LDCs unified voice on world trade issues. They also, for the first time, came up with a common position over issues of subsidies, market access and aid.“
"The declaration seeks greater opening of developed countries´ markets, elimination of non-tariff restrictions and also special and differential treatment for LDCs -- something that developed WTO members have long-committed, but never implement”d," Commerce Secretary Purushottam Ojha told myrepublica.
As a part of the declaration, LDCs at the ministerial conference will urge WTO members to implement duty-free and quota-free market access facility pledged to them, stop restricting agriculture trade, open job markets and support trade facilitation.
They will also voice out on issues like LDC accession to the WTO, trade and environment, increased support under Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and aid for trade-related infrastructure development and trade growth“
"The declaration will be forwarded at the Doha negotiations as a common stand of LD”s," said another official at Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, elaborating that the declaration also urges the development partners to move quickly in concluding negotiations and implement outcomes of Doha negotiations.
The Doha talks, launched in late 2001 to render international trade regime fair to all and pro-poor by slashing farm subsidies and agricultural and industrial tariffs, is suppose to come to an end in 2010. However, given the deadlock of the past and ever existing differences among developed and developing countries on tariff cuts for industrial goods, generally referred as non-agriculture market access (NAMA), experts doubt the successful conclusion of Doha Round by next year.
While urging the developed countries to eliminate agricultural subsidies, WTO LDCs, during the Dar Es Salaam meet, also expressed their wariness over possible adverse impact of cut on industrial tariff on their trade.“
"For instance, in certain countries and regions such as the EU, where LDCs are enjoying duty-free facility, higher tariff is serving us as a special cushion against our rivals. But, as the cut in tariff will erode this preference and make us Disproportionately Affected Countries, we are seeking developed members to put in place special preferential arrangements for LD”s," said the official.
LDC members will also urge the WTO developed members to lift all export restrictions on food items imported by developing countries to ensure food security.
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