Pakistan offers support to G-20 on WTO

Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan expressed hope that Group of Twenty (G-20) nations at their informal meeting, to be held in Pakistan during second week of September, would adopt a comprehensive strategy for getting free access of their products to developed countries.
He was talking to the Commerce Minister of Cuba Ricardo Carbrisas Ruiz at a bilateral meeting held on the sideline of an informal Ministerial-level meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that begins here this town of China on Tuesday.
He said Pakistan was looking forward to uphold the interests of Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and mobilise a unified stand on the issues like elimination of subsidies and bringing down domestic support on agricultural products. "We believe that the farmers from Pakistan and other countries would be the beneficiary with the elimination of subsidies in the West," he added.
Later talking to newsmen, Humayun Akhtar said the next G-20 ministerial meeting to be held in Pakistan by September would provide opportunity to the developing countries consult among themselves regarding a common strategy to achieve their shared objectives.
So far as rules are concerned, Pakistan would underline the need for improving WTO rules on anti-dumping, subsidies and counter veiling measures, fisheries subsidies and regional trade agreements.
Pakistan sought complete elimination of export subsidies given by the US, European Union and Japan, he added.
The Pakistan Commerce Minister expressed hope that on-going trade negotiation would bring about meaningful results, particularly on the issues relating to the export of agricultural products.
About the forthcoming formal ministerial conference of WTO member countries, to be held in December in Hong Kong, the Minister hoped it would help push forward world trade liberalisation and investment facilitation so as to promote development of all economies, especially that of developing ones.
Humayun Akhtar said he was optimistic about the success of G-20 group to get fair and equitable system in achieving WTO's objectives.
It may be mentioned that G-20 consists of Pakistan, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.