Developing nations distrustful, feisty ahead of WTO trade talks
Developing nations distrustful, feisty ahead of WTO trade talks
By Jean-Louis de la Vaissiere
GENEVA (AFP): Several of the most determined developing
countries are threatening to boycott the next round of WTO trade
negotiations until they have felt more of the benefits from the
last round of talks.
The group -- which includes India, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia,
Malaysia and some African nations -- has kept up its warning
throughout preparations for a key World Trade Organization (WTO)
conference in Seattle next week, scheduled to launch the new
trade round.
They say unless their demands are taken into consideration
before and during the U.S. ministerial meeting (Nov. 30 until
Dec. 3), no new trade round should be initiated in 2000.
"We are totally against a new trade round, the implementation
of earlier rounds has to be resolved," K.M. Raipuria, trade
advisor to the Indian trade ministry, said recently.
One of the major sticking points has been a demand by the
developing world for a re-deliberation of the agreements of the
Uruguay Round (1987-1994) either by adding to them, or through
re-negotiation.
Developing countries have not yet reaped the benefits of the
last trade round, especially in textiles and agriculture, their
representatives say.
Many of the rules should be looked at again and clarified,
they have said, to smooth out numerous practical obstacles
resulting from these agreements, notably in complex trade easing
measures such as customs and licenses.
To benefit from the agreements, they are asking for special
treatment -- a longer period to apply the rules, and technical
and financial help.
And the complexity of some of the agreements was completely
outside the capability of some of the worst-off countries, they
say.
Several developing countries have also called for the Uruguay
Round agreements to be re-negotiated on questions such as anti-
dumping, intellectual property rights, subsidies, phytosanitary
and sanitary measures.
But it is a risky game with more at stake to lose than to
gain, something some of them are not ready to risk in the end,
according to one diplomat.
On anti-dumping measures, traditional steps by the Americans
to protect their industries from competition, such demands have
been badly received.
However, Washington has said it is prepared to look at the
problems of the developing world, case by case during the trade
round, but not to renegotiate.
Developing countries are particularly critical about the
textiles agreement due to open up markets for producers before
2005. They are complaining that developed nations are applying
this accord too slowly.
On agriculture, developing countries want better access to the
main global markets through the dismantling of subsidies.
They also want more flexibility over their own subsidies,
arguing that they should be allowed to keep them for longer
because of the necessities of food security and domestic
employment.
The wish for some developed countries to introduce
environmental aspects and, in particular, work conditions into
the ministerial declaration, due to be announced in Seattle at
the end of the conference, has provoked much opposition.
Developing countries fear production costs will increase and
their competitive advantages will disappear.
Least developed countries, who are often without
representation at the WTO, have been disappointed to see the rich
nations do not seem ready to engage in putting into place a zero-
tariff for all their products which represent just 0.5 percent of
the world's trade.
WTO Director-General Mike Moore has appealed several times in
their favor, underlining that all the statements delivered in
Geneva about the "development cycle" must materialize into
actions.
Moroccan ambassador to the WTO Nacer Benjelloun-Touimi said
"it is difficult to imagine a development cycle because that
would put into question the rules of the market".