G-33 emphasizes 'D' in DDA

The Group of 33 Developing Countries has urged the participants of a World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Dalian, China, to come up with fair modalities that reflect the Doha mandate for development in formulating the so-termed "July First Approximation".

The Ministry of Trade said in a statement on Thursday that the G-33 expected the modalities to lead to a fair treaty to be agreed upon in the coming WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong in December.

Indonesia, as the leader of the G-33, considers the two-day talks in Dalian as "important and crucial in providing political guidance on issues that are being negotiated and serving as a breakthrough in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiation round".

In the event, the G-33 submitted its position on special products and safeguard mechanisms, several aspects of the tariff reduction formula and de minimis support for developing countries.

The G-33, which is now an alliance of 42 developing countries, has a goal to ensure that the issues of food security, livelihood security and rural development become an integral part of the current WTO trade negotiations and outcome, as called for by the Doha Development agenda.

The grouping also held an informal meeting on the sidelines of the talks on Tuesday. -- JP