20000314

Developing states' grasp

with inequity of rules

caused WTO moot failure

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The main reason for the failure of the WTO conference in Seattle was the disillusionment of many developing countries with the inequities of the rules and likely negative effects on their economies. The WTO should recognise that the majority of its members are developing countries and, therefore, they must be given due opportunity to voice their interest and exercise their rights.

This was one of the many recommendations made during the workshop on trade policy which was organised by the Colombo Plan Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Indonesia in Jakarta from February 28 to March 10, 2000. The meeting was attended by representatives from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Mahmood Ahmed, Vice-President, FPCCI attended the meeting as representative of the Pakistan private sector. The objective of the workshop was to provide an opportunity to the member countries of Colombo Plan to evaluate the necessary changes required in their trade policies to accommodate the commitments made as a signatory of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations/WTO rules as well as to use trade as an instrument of rapid growth.

The participants of the workshop were of the considered view that the problems of implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements should be given top priority at the WTO. They expressed apprehension that after the Seattle failure, these problems would again be sidelined as the focus was given to the problem of participation and transparency.

They felt that the system and culture of decision making in the WTO must undergo serious reforms and a process should be evolved whereby all the members should be allowed to be present at meetings and have full participation rights. They further agreed upon that new issues should not be addressed in WTO as they did not seem to favour the interests of the developing countries.