Minister for Commerce, Humayun Akhtar Khan represented Pakistan at a crucial WTO mini-Ministerial meeting held from 2-4 March at Mombasa (Kenya). The meeting was attended by 30 trade ministers from a selected group of countries including major trading nations such as the EU, US, Japan, China, India, Brazil, Australia and South Africa. Major focus of discussions was on finding solutions for issues which are stumbling blocks for Doha Round negotiations.
The ministers agreed that in order to obtain ambitious results at the Hong Kong Ministerial meeting, being held in December this year, a rough sketch or "First Approximation" of the eventual agreement should be worked out by July.
Particular attention was given to finding a formula for reduction of tariffs on industrial goods as it was felt that negotiations on this issue were lagging behind other areas.
Humayun Akhtar noted that products of export of developing countries, such as textiles, faced high tariffs. Therefore, the formula should be such that it should address this problem. If developed countries wanted to give preferences to some countries, the minister added, it should not be at the expense of other poor countries.
He also stressed for speedier negotiations on major issues of agriculture such as domestic subsidies and market access.
Minor technical issues such as conversion of specific rates to ad valorem rates should be resolved urgently and transparently. Since specific rates are used by developed countries to hide tariff peaks, there was a need to have all tariffs in ad valorem terms.
Humayun Akhtar also asked for more transparent rules on anti-dumping provisions, which are being unfairly used by some major countries for protection purposes.
On the issue of development, the commerce minister said that development for developing countries means more market access, elimination of subsidies and fairer rules on anti-dumping.
The ministers agreed that pace of negotiations should be intensified so that major issues could be resolved by July 2005 in order for a successful meeting at Hong Kong.
They also noted that the pace of negotiations on services was much slower than other areas and that there was a need for speeding up. They asked those countries that have not yet submitted their "initial offers' to do so as soon as possible.
Another ministerial meeting is expected in Paris in early May to take stock of progress on these issues.
Overall the ministerial meeting was considered quite successful.
The tone of the meeting showed commitment for achieving ambitious results in the Doha Round.-PR