Nepal has
asked to place trade at the
centre of
development discourse in defining the post 2015 development agenda.
Addressing a meeting of the Trade Ministers
of the Consultative Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the World Trade Organisation
today in Bali, commerce and supplies minister Shanker Prasad Koirala, underlined the role of trade to reduce poverty and accelerate the pace of
economic growth for sustainable development.
Koirala,
chairing the preparatory meeting for the ninth WTO Ministerial Conference that officially
begins tomorrow, also expressed
that the continued deadlock in multilateral trade negotiations has created
doubts whether multilateral track still remains a viable option for trade
negotiations.
"Proliferation of free trade agreements of varied scope and speed tend to
suggest a different pathway to achieve trade outcomes," he
said,
pointing out that multilateral track alone offers LDCs opportunity to come together
and pursue collective agenda as these countries otherwise have limited share,
role and voice in global trade.
Multilateral
approach is best suited to advancing LDCs' call for an equitable global trading
system that responds to their development needs and priorities, Koirala
added. "And success of multilateral trading system will have to be judged against
its contribution in enabling LDCs to secure equitable trade benefits."
Referring
to the LDC specific
outcomes negotiated for adoption by the ministers, namely implementation of duty-free-quota-free
market access, simplification of Rules of Origin, operationalisation
of Services waiver for LDCs and cotton, he said that the outcomes will
contribute to the effort of mainstreaming LDCs into multilateral trading system
and provide basis for further works.
Amidst
apprehension that yet another Ministerial Conference may end in deadlock, Koirala
also stressed
that Bali conference
must deliver a credible and balanced outcome which only can restore the
credibility of multilateral trading system.
Addressing
on the occasion,
the director-general
of the WTO, Roberto
Azevedo, stressed that works
in WTO stand at critical juncture and failure in delivery in
Bali will paralyse the
negotiating arm of the organisation and its relevance will be questioned.
He also appreciated
LDC Group's constructive engagements during the negotiations of the proposed
Bali package.
The
meeting was attended by ministers and other high level officials of 34 LDC members
of WTO and nine observers.
The
meeting adopted a Ministerial Declaration.
Held generally in every
two years, Ministerial Conference is the highest decision making body of the
WTO.
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