The Delhi Ministerial has called for an early resumption of the stalled WTO talks to meet the 2010 timeline on basis of the December 2008 texts.

The LDCs, SVEs, CARICOM, African Group, Cotton-4 and ACP countries are reeling under the adverse impact of the current global financial crisis with their shrinking economies and increasing joblessness. Unlike the developed countries and emerging economies like India and China, these countries do not have adequate resources to mitigate the adverse impact of this situation. At this point of time the world leaders and experts are not working to provide an alternative global financial and economic order, but instead are banking on the revival of the present ailing system. Therefore, these poor countries have found no other way but to call for revival of the stalled multilateral trade talks, keeping in view the Doha Development Agenda.

Egypt has planned to host a two-day informal Ministerial Meeting of African members of the WTO beginning October 27, 2009 to seek how best to further advance the talks on the Doha Development Round.

The leader of the African Group and the Egypt trade minister, Rachid Mohamed Rachid said :”Genuine concerns have arisen for the crisis' two-fold effect on African economies. Huge stimulus packages and bailout plans introduced by some countries, particularly the developed ones on the one hand and resort to protectionist measures and policies on the other hand have left African economies out in the cold.”

To substantiate his views he quoted African Development Bank which said that losses in export revenues for Africa are estimated to touch $251 billion in 2009 and $277 billion in 2010. The World Bank estimates that private investment flows to developing countries decreased by more than 40% in 2008 and is expected to further decline to $363 billion in 2009 from a peak of $1.2 trillion in 2007.”In such a global context, African countries believe that early and successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round has become imperative as a stimulus for their economies,” Rachid said.

The coordinator of the LDCs and the trade minister of Tanzania, Dr Mary Michael Nagu said : “The early conclusion of the Doha Round is of special interest to LDCs owing to the fact that, the longer it takes the Round to be concluded, the worse the LDCs will find themselves in. The successful conclusion of the Round might have different interpretations in various international groupings. LDCs, however, want to conclude a deal in order to address the developmental concerns”

The Tanzanian trade minister also recognized the sentiments expressed by coordinators of G-33, ACP and African Union

According to Nagu the concerns of the LDCs are operationalisation of the preferential market access (duty free and quota free - DFQF) for both agriculture and industrial goods and as well as in services, increased provision of resources through Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), aid for trade and enhanced integrated framework, early phasing out of the developed countries' cotton subsidy

The Tanzanian trade minister also urged for technical assistance and capacity building for LDCs, addressing food crisis facing net food importing LDCs, flexibility in implementing WTO obligations and rules including less than full reciprocity and transitional period for sufficient preparedness and adjustment, permission to protect and safeguard LDCs trade and development interest against powerful foreign competition and addressing specific needs and concerns of the LDCs.

On behalf of the ACP group, the Mauritius Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Arvin Boolell said : “You cannot imagine the havoc that a trade breakdown will mean for small and vulnerable economies that are dependant on trade for their survival.”

On bilateral engagements, the Mauritius trade minister said : “We do not oppose bilateral talks as we cannot and these were always part of the process…..The second element of the process is to consider timeframes for bilaterals so that they do not remain open-ended endlessly and do not become an expedient excuse for delaying the process….Bilaterals have always been part of the informal process but they cannot be decisive and bilateral deals cannot disturb the acquis of third parties in the modalities. This will disturb the balance reached and is unfair and unacceptable and will certainly prolong the process unduly, if not vitiate the process itself. The multilateral process cannot be held hostage to bilaterals for long….”

ACP believes that banana issue, tropical products and preferences are interrelated and form part of a single package approach. ACP has interests and concerns in other areas of negotiations like fishery subsidies, trade facilitation and therefore seeks horizontal clarity in the context of the single undertaking before scheduling is finalized.

“The ACP feels that our traditional pattern of sequencing is still valid but one should be flexible enough as not to make adherence to the principle of rigidity….The ACP therefore believes that concluding modalities remains the first priority in sequencing….The ACP considers the modalities as more than working hypothesis. While they do not constitute the legal commitments, they are an immediate step before legal texts. They therefore provide the basis and understandings on which commitments in schedules will be made and amendments, additions or interpretations of the covered agreements will ensue. The proper sequencing must therefore be adhered to, namely modalities and other draft texts must be finalized before scheduling starts,” Boolell cautioned.

The Mauritius Foreign Affairs Minister further clarified that the convergence reached in July over the modalities for preferences in both NAMA and agriculture must remain part of the acquis for the ACP to agree with any outcome. The concerns of SVEs must be addressed in all areas including a user-friendly SSM in agriculture and flexibilities in NAMA and services. The interests of LDCs should be duly reflected with an early harvest on duty free quota free (DFQF) market access commitments. The cotton issue must be effectively and expeditiously resolved.

The leader of the CARICOM Group and Trinidad and Tobago minister for trade and industry, Mariano Browne demanded that priority must be given for making special and differential treatment more precise, effective and operational, December 2008 texts as the basis for future negotiations, agreeing on modalities in areas before any scheduling of commitments, additional flexibilities in SSM, Special Products and Sensitive Products, aid-for trade as a complimentary tool for flexibilities sought in other negotiating areas and bilateral and plurilateral discussions should be transparent and adjunct to formal negotiations.

The Nigeria minister for commerce and industry, Achike Udenwa endorsed the statements made by Egypt on behalf of the African Group, Mauritius on behalf of the ACP, Brazil on behalf of G 20 and Indonesia on behalf of G 33 “I also commend US, China European Union and other delegates for their commitments to the early conclusion of the Doha Round,” he said.

The G-33 leader and Indonesia's minister for trade, Mari Elka Pangestu said ; “Concerns of developing countries including LDCs, SVEs and NFIDCs in the negotiations should be accommodated as priority. Hence the developed members should not make unrealistic and disproportionate requests for market access from developing countries…Within agriculture and NAMA we should not accept any attempt to single out issues as being more critical than others for obvious reasons….The conclusion of DDA is much needed in light of the adverse effects of financial crisis to the world economy and to developing countries in particular.”

Regarding horizontal process, Pangestu said that meaningful and effective horizontal talks can only be possible if the “almost-final” draft modalities in each negotiation groups were in place. She pleaded for S&D flexibilities for developing countries, mandate for self-designation of SpecialProducts and the outcome on SSM negotiations which should give developing nations a simple and effective instrument to protect their poor and vulnerable farmers from import surges and price dips.

China's minister of commerce, Chen Deming called for promptly addressing the concerns of the African Group, Cotton-4, ACP group, SVEs and LDCs regarding the “dual exemption”, phasing out of cotton subsidies and special treatment for SVEs. He urged for flexibility for developing countries particularly in self designation of SpecialProducts and voluntary participation in sectoral reductions as per the text of Hong Kong Ministerial.

The Brazil's minister for external relations, Celso Amorin on behalf of G 20 said : “Progress in talks in other areas is contingent on what happens in agriculture. Any improvement in the negotiating results must start in agriculture with development friendly outcomes….G 20 remains firmly committed to a result that lives up to the Doha Mandate on development, in particular seeking the elimination and/or substantial reduction of trade-distorting policies maintained by developed countries and by improving market access to products from developing world.”. He also supported the concerns of the LDCs.

On behalf of Brazil, Amorin said : “draft modalities cannot be the ceiling for some and the floor for others….The concessions being asked from some developing countries violate the negotiated mandates.Insistence on such concessions would dash any hope for a balanced, equitable or proportional outcome…Still, it is clear to me that striving for a higher level of overall ambition will extend negotiations well beyond 2010.”

The Australian minister for trade, Simon Crean quoting the Washington-based Petersen Institute said that the world economy would experience annual growth in GDP in the range of $300 billion to $700 billion. A 10% reduction by major economies to services barriers would increase global exports by at least $56 billion annually and world GDP by $100 billion annually. He said Australia has a shared vision with India for a new free trade area spanning 10 countries of South-East Asia known as ASEAN plus, India, Japan, China, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

He said : “ the joint feasibility study on free trade agreement (FTA) with India is in the final stages of completion. I intended returning to India next month to discuss next steps.” Bilateral agreement with India would address food and energy security and identify education as a potential area for cooperation.

The Uruguay's vice minister of foreign affairs, Nelson Fernandez emphasized the need for countries to continue to resist protectionist tendencies.#