Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan has stressed for an ambitious round which could only be accomplished if tariff cuts were substantial in agriculture as well as industrial goods.
He stated this while representing Pakistan at a meeting of about 25 ministers from key WTO members who met in Geneva on November 8-9, to discuss ways and means for making the Honk Kong Ministerial Conference a success.
While explaining Pakistan's proposal on industrial goods, Humayun reminded the other ministers that it was not only ambitious, it also imposed equal burden on various group of countries.
What the EU was asking through its formula was to put all the pressure of tariff cutting on developing countries. Obviously, such a solution is not acceptable and is against the Doha mandate, he added.
In this connection, he cited the example of exports of bedlinen from Pakistan. These exports were not only being subjected to MFN duty of 12 percent but also anti-dumping duty of 13.1 percent. As opposed to this, many competitors were allowed zero duty. He stressed that Doha Round must eliminate such harsh discrimination against poor countries.
The ministers focused on proposals of market access on agriculture, industrial goods and services. They also discussed development issues. While many countries agreed to show flexibility in other areas, the EU was reluctant to make any improvement on its earlier offer on market access in agriculture. Also, they kept insisting on significant cuts on industrial tariffs from developing countries.
Over all negotiations did not seem to be making much progress. On the one hand, some advanced economies did not seem to show any flexibility and many countries, which are at present enjoying tariff preferences, were not willing to move forward.
Humayun also took this opportunity to discuss with key EU trade official, including Peter Carl, Director-General (Trade), for suspension of anti-dumping duty on export of bedlinen from Pakistan. He was assured that an early discussion would be taken on this issue.