Heartening, indeed, it is to learn from a news report that the Ministry of Commerce, shedding its procrastination over matters linked to compliance with World Trade Organisation's requirements, is hastening with compilation of a list of all the items that can be categorised as geographical indications (GIs) of Pakistan.
An idea of the seriousness of the seemingly belatedly aroused interest in the matter may be had from the advice the ministry has reportedly issued to all the trade bodies to join the effort.
It has pointed out that the GIs figure among the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) of the WTO members, qualifying for protection under Article 22-24 of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (Trips) Agreement. In so far as its significance for Pakistan is concerned, it has been further explained that the GIs classification would help identify goods as originating in the territory of this country or a locality in its territory, wherein, a given quality, reputation or any other characteristic of the goods, is attributable to its geographical origin.
The ministry has done well to quote examples of such identifiable items with a reference to several randomly picked products in a wide and variegated range, as comprising farm produce or manufactured goods, while also referring to Basmati and Kasuri Methi, along with beverages and tobacco, as examples.
Viewed in this perspective, the ministry's protracted indifference to the collection of an information so vital to the variously beleaguered Doha Round of talks, will appear to be intriguing, thereby leaving many to wonder as to the nature of pressures behind the rude awakening to its need this late in the day. Be that as it may, the fact remains that the failure of the Cancun Conference, which could have spurred the movement towards a new global trade pact but resulted in a disarray, hampers implementation of the Doha Development Agenda, of 2001.
Recalling that the negotiating process was to be completed by January 1, 2005, but the prospect turned bleak on the Cancun moot foundering mainly over the Singapore issues, focusing concerns of the developed countries.
That was largely to the detriment of the developing nations, who were understandably, keen on resolving agricultural issues in its widening dimensions, as also encompassing Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (Trips), with which is intimately linked the GI issue. However, the WTO trade ministers' recent moot at Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt), tried to break the deadlock, by thrashing out the tough issue of agriculture.
Speaking on that occasion, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar joined the other members of the Group of 22, urging developed countries to honour their commitments in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, by rapidly phasing out the huge subsidies to their agriculture, along with addressing other concerns over agriculture related trade. As for Pakistan, he contended, despite a comparative advantage in agriculture, it could not realise its full potential in farm-related trade because of developed countries' massive subsidies and protection to their farmers.
This concern being common to most of the developing countries, his emphasis on priority attention to elimination of non-tariff barriers and reduction in tariff barriers, rhymed well with their urges and aspirations, particularly on agriculture and variously handicapped industrial sector too.
These concerns also figured among the apprehensions WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi voiced in his address on the occasion. It will also be noted that he urged finalisation of the major issues, including integrating environmental concerns into trade matters and evolving a system to protect certain well-known types of food, such as Basmati rice or Darjeeling tea - both having a direct bearing on South Asian economies. His observations should leave little to doubt the urgency of Pakistan and similarly distressed developing countries concentrating on GIs.