(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown,
Guyana) We are all privileged to meet in this
bustling and fascinating host city - Hong Kong. I
congratulate the Chair of this Conference and his
able team for all the logistical and administrative
arrangements, which have made our stay here
enjoyable despite the hectic schedule.
Jamaica is committed to trade liberalisation and
to the World Trade Organisation. We will continue to
work towards a successful Doha Round.
Yet there is cause for concern. Many in the
developing world were buoyed by the expressed
commitment to a development round that came out of
the Doha discussions and which was reaffirmed at
Cancun. Today, my country has to face the
disappointment of declining terms of trade and the
erosion of long-standing preferential arrangements
for our two largest agricultural exports, banana and
sugar.
In 2003, the World Bank asserted that a “pro-poor
Doha Round could increase global income by as much
as US$520 billion and lift an additional 144 million
people out of poverty”. The Bank further projected
that there would be US$832 billion in estimated
gains from global trade liberalisation of which the
majority- $539 billion- would accrue to the
developing world. Institutions and economists are
now adjusting the economic models and numbers. There
is growing recognition that the gains to the global
economy for many will be less than anticipated. The
World Banks’ projections now suggest that global
gains from trade liberalization are more likely to
be US$ 96 billion with only about US $16 billion,
realisable in 2015, going to the entire developing
world.
A paradox of the Doha Round is that even while
the projected gains for a large number of developing
countries appear to be diminishing, the demands
being made on them by negotiating partners are
increasing. It is to be emphasised that this is of
great concern to CARICOM member states and to other
vulnerable economies especially since there has been
no unequivocal commitment to take account of their
situation through flexible and operational
provisions.
Mr. Chairman, we recognize the attempts of some
developed member states to buttress our efforts at
development through proposals such as “aid for
trade” and other ongoing initiatives geared towards
improvements in the delivery of technical assistance
and capacity building. In this regard, we consider
support for the valuable work of organizations such
as the International Trade Centre vitally important.
Mr. Chairman, this Conference can only be a
success to the extent that there is discernible
movement on the development agenda.
What do we mean when we speak of the
development dimension in the WTO context? By
development I am referring to:
- the promotion of the productive sectors
through enhanced trade
- the sustained development of the
commodity sector
- building supply capacity and
competitiveness
- the increase in effective market access
for developing countries in areas of export
interest.
- real recognition of the asymmetries
between developed and developing countries
which are determined by factors such as the size
of our economies, our supply capacity and
institutional and regulatory capacities.
- real sensitivity towards the adjustment
concerns resulting from trade reforms and
liberalisation.
Mr. Chairman, my delegation is committed to
having our interests clearly reflected in the
following key negotiating areas:
● Agriculture
We have given our support to differentiated tariff
cuts, which will prove less onerous for developing
countries. We remain committed to the inclusion of
Special Products, the Special Safeguard Mechanism
and longstanding preferences – all of which are
provided for in the agreed July Framework.
● NAMA
Full recognition must be given to the impact on
fragile industries and to the revenue implications
for small vulnerable economies. We will continue to
argue for an appropriate formula and co-efficient.
We maintain that paragraph 8 flexibilities are an
essential element required by developing countries
in order to manage the process of liberalization. It
must be remembered that from the first Round to the
Uruguay Round, developed countries reduce their
average tariffs from around 40% to 10%. Then in the
Uruguay Round, there was a further reduction to an
average of about 6%. It is now being proposed that a
significant number of developing countries including
CARICOM Members, reduce their average tariffs by 60%
and more in one huge leap. This is not acceptable.
● Services
Jamaica continues to register its objection to the
use of any modality based on mandatory targets,
plurilateral processes, formulae or benchmarking. We
have also identified specific areas of export
interest, particularly under Mode 4.
● The Development Agenda
The development dimension remains a central concern,
both as a cross cutting issue and as well in our
efforts to make special and differential treatment
provisions more precise, effective and operational.
● Small Economies
We recognize that some progress has been made in the
Work Programme on Small Economies. Let me however
underscore that we will not be satisfied with
language or promises that are not translated into
specific and operational provisions which provide
flexibility.
In closing, I take this opportunity to welcome
the new members to the WTO – Saudi Arabia and Tonga.
Let us make this Ministerial Conference memorable
in our quest for renewed vigour and fresh commitment
to the Development Agenda. Our historical obligation
is to ensure a negotiated outcome in which
development is truly the centerpiece.
I thank you.
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