Development Agenda Crucial for Nairobi Global Trade Conference

By Dr. Patrick Gomes, ACP Seretary-General | IDN-InDepthNews VIewpoint

BRUSSELS (IDN) – The year 2015 has witnessed a number of global events so important to development, namely; the Financing for Development Conference that took place in Addis Ababa from July 13 to16, 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York that took place from the September 25 to 27, 2015, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) scheduled to take place in Paris from the November 30 to December 11, 2015 and the World Trade Organization Tenth Ministerial Conference (MC10) scheduled for the December 15 to 18, 2015 in Nairobi Kenya.

This is the first time that a WTO Ministerial Conference will be held on the continent of Africa and in an ACP Country, therefore I have no doubt that we are all equally enthused by this fact. Some reports from Geneva on developments in the negotiations at the WTO might damper our enthusiasm.

Agreement on issues of particular interest to the ACP Group, especially the development aspect, remains elusive. We have learnt of sentiments from some WTO Members that suggest that it is now time to fold the Doha Development Round (DDA) and close shop because of this lack of agreement on the issues under negotiation.

I don’t think any of us share the view that the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), a development round, be wound up in this fashion, before it has delivered on core issues central to our development; A Ministerial in an ACP Country must produce tangible fruits for development!

And while we fully appreciate that negotiations allow all parties to adopt certain positions that advance and defend their interests, we are convinced that there still remains room for continued negotiation on the DDA issues on the table.

As expressed in the report of the senior officials and from the draft declaration, the ACP Group still believes in the DDA, and in the current format of negotiations as the best way our voice to be heard.

We are therefore rather circumspect about suggestions by some WTO Members that we abandon the DDA framework after Nairobi, if as is likely there is no agreement, in favor of some new, but yet-to-be defined, negotiating approaches. We were in New York in September with our several Heads of Government when the UN adopted The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development: Transforming our World. I believe all of us share the view that the successful conclusion of the DDA will make an important contribution towards the realization of the SDGs.

The ACP Group has grown in its influence at the WTO. After all, we constitute about a third of the WTO membership (61 members, 7 in accession with Liberia soon to join at the Nairobi Ministerial). We must work vigorously for Nairobi to be a success.

The ACP Group has continued to take a constructive approach and must deepen that role. Our track record is good. In the run up to the Bali December 2013 Ministerial Conference, inputs into the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) led to the setting up of the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility an initiative by the ACP, African and LDC Groups. Ratification has to be encouraged.

Further more in October 2014, the ACP Group developed principles towards defining a post-Bali work programme in pursuance of instructions by Ministers in Bali for WTO members to come up with an elaborate work programme on the remaining DDA issues by December 31, 2014. However due to the impasse, the General Council meeting of November 27, 2014 adopted a decision committing members to resume work immediately and engage constructively towards developing a clear Doha Development Agenda (DDA) work programme by July 2015.

In view of the aforementioned the ACP Group in March 2015 developed an elements paper for defining a post-Bali work programme on the remaining DDA issues. This proposal was well received by members for instance it showed how the development component in the services pillar could be captured.

Further on In July, 2015 the ACP Group developed another proposal for bridging the gaps on the remaining DDA issues with a view of putting across a possible development package in Nairobi. The ACP also together with the African and LDC Groups developed a G90 joint declaration on development in preparation for the Nairobi MC10.

The October 8 General Council commenced consultations on a drafting process and consideration of possible issues to be taken up at MC10 and post-MC10.

The ACP Group of states should insist that the DDA and all the negotiating acquis be explicitly affirmed in Nairobi.

Part of the ACP strategy for the Ministerial is to safeguard continuation of the DDA post-Nairobi. The ACP Group is in support of a Ministerial declaration in Nairobi, which will give guidance to members on the future work.

Also the Group emphasises that more development oriented proposals should be included in addition to the LDC package, agreement on the Special and differential treatment proposals by the G90 (ACP, LDC and African Groups), locking in the principles and texts in favour of developing countries in particular LDCs, and SVEs, agriculture, NAMA flexibilities and an agreement on cotton.

*This Viewpoint contains excerpts from his statement to the ACP Trade Ministers on October 21, 2015 in Brussels. [IDN-InDepthNews – 23 October 2015]

Photo: The Writer | Credit: ACP

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