Morocco calls WTO member countries to renew adherence to doha round

Moroccan foreign trade minister, Mustapha Mechahouri, called on Thursday the World Trade Organization (WTO) member-countries to reiterate attachment to the Doha program.

The minister told the 5th plenary meeting of the WTO ministerial encounter held this September 10-14, it is important to send "strong signals" to increase the confidence of people around the world in the Doha round negotiations, notably on items that concern developing countries and the least developed countries.

The Moroccan minister met on the same day French external trade delegate minister, François Loos, along with several representatives of African countries participating in the WTO ministerial conference.

He underlined during the encounter that developing countries, particularly African countries, do not have the technical or financial means to tap on opportunities offered by the European Union's drop of agricultural production after the latest reform of the common agricultural policy.

He also called on France to continue to defend developing countries interests in the European community's institutions to match the EU's position in agricultural negotiations with development objectives of the Doha round.