Developing countries should talk part in formulating trade system
Regional-Egypt, Economics, 11/5/2001

The Ministerial Economic Committee, under Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, will within the coming hours discuss Egypt's attitude towards issues to be discussed by the fourth ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, during the period 9-13 November.

Minister of Economy and External Trade, Youssef Boutros Ghali, who leads Egypt's delegation to the Doha Conference, told a press conference Sunday that Egypt's attitude would be an extension of the attitude it had adopted at the third ministerial conference that was held in Seattle, USA, in November 1999.

But there will be some changes to keep pace with current International conditions, Egypt will stress that it is necessary that developing countries take part in formulating the multi- lateral trade system and they should receive a fair share of the privileges considering that this is a basic condition for the success of this system.

Special priority should be given to solve problems and carry out the results of the Uruguay round.

"The Doha conference will give a chance to correct some agreements of the Uruguay round and other issues related to Agriculture and services etc," Ghali said.

Dr. Ghali said that developing countries, led by Egypt, have solved about 50 out of a total of 90 points of difference as regards development related to agreements of the Uruguay round.

These differences were resolved through contacts in preparation for the Doha conference.

As regards the remaining 40 problems, developing countries, led by Egypt, have adopted a position which says that if agreement is reached to hold a-set of negotiations, then issues related to execution will be at the top of negotiations to develop the multi-lateral trade agreements.

Ghali said negotiations were held about trade and services in January 2001 and are continuing.

"We have asked for the development of the agenda of these negotiations," he said.

As regards agriculture, Egypt stresses that it is necessary to free agricultural commodities in a real manner by laying down clear bases for non-customs instruments used in to limit the trade of agricultural commodities.

"Egypt suffers a great deal as a result of this in trying to penetrate outside markets with its agricultural products," Ghali said.

Ghali said that advanced countries should reduce local subsidies on agriculture and remove obstacles in the way of the exports of developing countries.

Several advanced countries resist this. This is harmful to developing countries.

As regards non-agricultural commodities, Ghali said that Egypt's demand in this connection is that efforts should be made to deal with what is called tariff peaks and gradual tariff through reducing tariff escalation of manufactured goods produced by developing countries.

Industrial countries impose high duties on manufactured goods and these dues become higher with the increase in the level of industrialization.

As an example, tariff on plastic is low but if it is manufactured and took the shape of different products, the tariff becomes higher. This should be cancelled.

As regards services, there is no objection that negotiations that began in January 2001 continue.

"We only ask that treatment as regards negotiation position related to developing countries be continued,' he said.

Ghali said that as regards intellectual property, Egypt and developing countries are of the view that it is necessary to initiate negotiations to enable developing countries to make available medicines, chemicals and treatment needs at an appropriate cost for their peoples in the cases of health, health crises and combating epidemics.

As regards trade and competition, Ghali said that there are practices at world level that are harmful to developing countries. He gave as an example monopoly of certain markets.

Ghali said that reaching markets of settling disputes are local issues and have no relations to the framework of multilateral negotiations.

In reply to a question, Ghali said that advanced countries have shown better willingness by giving suitable space to developing countries to correct agreements of the Uruguay round and receive privileges in international trade in the fields of agricultural commodities and other goods.

In reply to another question, Ghali said that relations between trade, debts and financing should be codified because this is something which concerns the third world and also the relationship between trade and technology transfer from the advanced world to the developing world.

Ghali asked for special perspective as regards reaching markets and application of the various trade agreements.

"We ask for a special and preferential treatment for the developing world," Ghali said.

Previous Stories:
  Four Arab countries to conclude free trade agreement   (10/24/2001)
  African trade ministers consider setting up common market   (10/2/2001)
  Egypt underlines African economic integration   (9/25/2001)

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