Download South Africa`s Approach to the WTO`s 9 th

South Africa’s Approach to the
WTO’s 9th Ministerial Conference
By Xavier Carim,
Deputy Director General:
International Trade and Economic Development Division
the dti
Presentation to the
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry
1 November 2013
Introduction
• SA is a proponent of multilateralism to manage
globalisation and interdependence.
• Imbalances in WTO rules that prejudice developing
countries’ interests need to be addressed.
• Reforms should enhance transparency and inclusiveness,
and be re-balanced in favour of developing countries.
• SA’s support for the Doha Round premised on overcoming
identified imbalances and securing a developmental
outcome for developing countries.
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Doha Round
• SA’s negotiating objectives for the Round:
– Enhance market access for products of export interests
to developing countries;
– Renegotiate rules that perpetuate imbalances in
international trade regime;
– Ensure appropriate policy space for developing
countries to pursue development objectives through
meaningful implementation of the principle of S&DT.
• Doha mandate require to place concerns of developing
countries at centre of the work programme.
• In pursuit of above, SA has built alliances with Southern
partners (Africa Group, NAMA 11, G20, G90).
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Doha Round
• Repeated attempts by major economies to erode the
Round’s developmental mandate.
• Oppose meaningful reform in agriculture, but pressure
emerging economies to open their industrial and services
sectors.
• The demands on SA would be harsh: SA obtains little in
agriculture, but required to take deeper and wider
industrial tariff cuts than any other WTO Member.
• Perpetuates imbalance of Uruguay Round, and not an
outcome that is developmental, fair or balanced.
• Divergences and intransigence brought Doha Round to
impasse since July 2008.
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The New Trade Narrative and WTO
• Impasse prompted new approaches for international
liberalisation and rule making negotiations.
• In 2011, majors proposed plurilateral negotiations on
selected issues and new priority issues for negotiations.
• Undermine multilateral principle of the single undertaking
that requires balanced progress on the agenda.
• Leads to ‘Cherry-picking’: trade facilitation not agriculture.
• Proposals to introduce new issues in WTO are premature
given the unfinished business of the Doha Round.
• SA is committed to concluding the Round on the basis of
the development mandate and Single Undertaking
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WTO Bali Ministerial
• 9th WTO MC in Dec 2013 appeared to offer an opportunity
to deliver a modest outcome on:
• LDC Package (DFQF, Cotton, services waiver, RoO);
Agric TRQs, export subsidies, food security; some S&D
provisions; and Trade Faciliation.
• Prospects not encouraging: No will to discuss DFQF,
Cotton, agri subsidies outside broader Round.
• LDC Services and RoO will be non-binding undertakings.
• S&D provisions diluted.
• Agri TRQs and food security proposals face serious
opposition.
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WTO Bali Ministerial
• Great deal of pressure for a binding TF agreement.
• Key problem is burden of implementation falls on
weaker, poorer economies.
• No willingness to commit to legal binding capacity
building undertakings for weakest economies.
• Efforts to reduce scope of S&D treatment for
developing countries.
• No agreement on some standards between majors.
• Little time left to bridge gaps (11 Nov).
• Declaration for ongoing work program post-Bali
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SA Preparations for Bali
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•
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Consultations in NEDLAC.
Engagement with Parliamentary Portfolio Committee.
SA National Consultative Conference (14 Nov 2013).
AU Trade Ministers Meeting, Addis Ababa (21-25 Oct
2013).
• SA Delegation to MC9 to include Members of Parliament
and NEDLAC Constituencies: Business, Labour and
Community.
• Consultations with IBSA and BRICS Partners in Bali.
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