Emerging countries give mixed reaction to WTO ideas to break Doha deadlock
Sunday, 17 February 2008
GENEVA, Feb 16 (AFP): Developing countries yesterday welcomed WTO proposals to reduce barriers to farm trade but voiced reservations on those calling for a further opening of their own markets for industrial goods.
The draft agreement on agriculture presented by the World Trade Organisation a week ago "is a good basis for further work," said Brazilian ambassador Clodoaldo Hugueney, speaking for the Group of 20 emerging market nations.
"These positions offer the best prospects for a balanced and reasonable outcome for the Doha Development Agenda."
The Doha round of multilateral trade liberalisation talks was launched in the Qatari capital Doha in November 2001 but has foundered ever since in disputes between developing and industrialised nations.
Developing countries have been pressing for greater access to agricultural markets in the industrialised world. Developed nations are in return seeking a better deal for their manufactured products on developing country markets.
Hugueney hailed the WTO's inclusion in its proposal of an average minimum reduction of 54 per cent in customs duties levelled on developing country agricultural exports by industrialised nations.
The G20, which besides Brazil includes such emerging powerhouses as China and India, had put forward the same proposal.
But emerging market countries were less enthusiastic about the WTO draft on manufactured goods, which "largely ignored their proposals," Hugueney told AFP.
This WTO text calls on about 30 emerging countries to set a 23 per cent maximum level on their customs duties on industrial products. But the document also drops any reference to the number of products a country would be entitled to protect from too sharp a delcine in customs duties.
"That gave the impression of being a step backward," Hugueney said.
The draft agreement on agriculture presented by the World Trade Organisation a week ago "is a good basis for further work," said Brazilian ambassador Clodoaldo Hugueney, speaking for the Group of 20 emerging market nations.
"These positions offer the best prospects for a balanced and reasonable outcome for the Doha Development Agenda."
The Doha round of multilateral trade liberalisation talks was launched in the Qatari capital Doha in November 2001 but has foundered ever since in disputes between developing and industrialised nations.
Developing countries have been pressing for greater access to agricultural markets in the industrialised world. Developed nations are in return seeking a better deal for their manufactured products on developing country markets.
Hugueney hailed the WTO's inclusion in its proposal of an average minimum reduction of 54 per cent in customs duties levelled on developing country agricultural exports by industrialised nations.
The G20, which besides Brazil includes such emerging powerhouses as China and India, had put forward the same proposal.
But emerging market countries were less enthusiastic about the WTO draft on manufactured goods, which "largely ignored their proposals," Hugueney told AFP.
This WTO text calls on about 30 emerging countries to set a 23 per cent maximum level on their customs duties on industrial products. But the document also drops any reference to the number of products a country would be entitled to protect from too sharp a delcine in customs duties.
"That gave the impression of being a step backward," Hugueney said.