G-33 emphasizes 'D' in DDA

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