RESTRICTED WT/TPR/W/72 18 November 2014 (14-6666) Page
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RESTRICTED WT/TPR/W/72 18 November 2014 (14-6666) Page: 1/55 Trade Policy Review Body DJIBOUTI AND MAURITIUS DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING* HELD ON 22 AND 24 OCTOBER 2014 Delegations are invited to submit factual corrections, if any, on their own statement to the Secretariat (Mrs Barbara Blanquart: [email protected], or to [email protected]) no later than 2 December 2014. Organe d'examen des politiques commerciales DJIBOUTI ET MAURICE PROJET DE COMPTE RENDU DE LA RÉUNION* TENUE LES 22 ET 24 OCTOBRE 2014 Les délégations sont invitées à soumettre leurs éventuelles corrections factuelles concernant leurs propres déclarations au Secrétariat (Mme Barbara Blanquart: [email protected], ou [email protected]) le 2 décembre 2014 au plus tard. Órgano de Examen de las Políticas Comerciales DJIBOUTI Y MAURICIO PROYECTO DE ACTA DE LA REUNIÓN* CELEBRADA LOS DÍAS 22 Y 24 DE OCTUBRE DE 2014 Las delegaciones pueden enviar a la Secretaría (Sra. Barbara Blanquart: [email protected], o [email protected]) a más tardar el 2 de diciembre de 2014 las correcciones fácticas que deseen introducir en sus propias declaraciones. _______________ * In Original language only/En langue originale seulement/En el idioma original solamente. WT/TPR/W/72 • Djibouti and Mauritius - 2 - TRADE POLICY REVIEW DJIBOUTI AND MAURITIUS DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING Chairperson: H.E. Mrs. Mariam MD Salleh CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON ....................................................... 3 2 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF DJIBOUTI .................................... 5 3 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MAURITIUS ................................. 9 4 STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT .............................................................................. 15 5 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS ........................................................................................ 22 6 REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF DJIBOUTI ....................................................... 46 7 REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MAURITIUS AND ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 48 8 CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON ......................................................... 54 Note: Advance written questions and additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies provided by Djibouti and Mauritius are reproduced in document WT/TPR/M/305/Add.1 and WT/TPR/M/304/Add.1 and will be available online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm. WT/TPR/W/72 • Djibouti and Mauritius - 3 - 1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 1.1. The second Trade Policy Review of Djibouti and the fourth Trade Policy Review of Mauritius was held on 22 and 24 October 2014. The Chairperson H.E. Mrs. Mariam MD Salleh (Malaysia) welcomed the delegation of Djibouti headed by H.E. Mr. Hassan Ahmed Boulaleh, Minister Delegate for Trade; the delegation of Mauritius headed by Mrs. Usha Dwarka-Canabady, Secretary for Foreign Affairs; the rest of the two delegations, including H.E. Mr. Mohamed Siad Douale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Djibouti and H.E. Mr. Israhyananda Dhalladoo of Mauritius; other colleagues from the mission in Geneva; and the discussant, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Duque (Colombia). 1.2. The Chairperson recalled the purpose of the Trade Policy Reviews and the main elements of the procedures for the meeting. The reports by Djibouti and Mauritius were contained in documents WT/TPR/G/305 and WT/TPR/G/304 and that of the WTO Secretariat in WT/TPR/S/305 and WT/TPR/S/304. 1.3. Questions by the following delegations had been submitted in writing at least two weeks in advance and had been transmitted to the delegations of Djibouti and Mauritius: the United States; Canada; China; the European Union and Brazil. The following delegations submitted written questions after the two-week deadline: Peru and Thailand. 1.4. It appeared from the reports that Djibouti's economy was dominated by services with no significant production of goods. GDP growth accelerated recently, averaging some 5% since 2007. The report by the Secretariat stressed that agriculture was marginal and manufacturing remained underdeveloped, constrained by tax burden, and high labour and energy costs. Nevertheless, the authorities were committed to making trade and regional integration a tool of economic development. Steps were being taken, including through a public-private dialogue to ensure an environment conducive to investment, competitive production and exports; and Members were interested to know more about these practical efforts. 1.5. The Chairperson recalled that during the previous review, Members had expressed their concern regarding the lack of transparency in Djibouti's Internal Consumption Tax or TIC system as exemptions and concessions had made the TIC a de facto tariff; a Value Added Tax (VAT) had been adopted to progressively replace the TIC. However, the concomitant application of the VAT with the TIC further complicated Djibouti's taxation system. 1.6. Despite noticeable reforms in its trade policies and practices, Djibouti continued to face challenges regarding timely notification to the WTO of new trade-related measures. Moreover, Djibouti would benefit from promptly addressing the issue of public enterprises in its economy, since this continued to be a major reason for the supply-side constraints already pointed out by Members during the previous review. 1.7. Turning to Mauritius, Mauritius had pursued a reform agenda that was evident in its previous review to make its economy more liberal and competitive. Tariffs had been further reduced so that MFN zero rates applied to nearly 90% of its tariff lines; trade facilitation measures had been taken; competition legislation had been enacted and a competition commission was working actively. State intervention in the economy remained quite pervasive despite recent liberalization of certain state-trading activities. The Chairperson was sure Members would like to hear from Mauritius about its plans to continue along this ambitious and positive path. 1.8. The Chairperson also noted that new laws on government procurement, competition, anti-dumping and copyright had entered into force and work was ongoing to introduce further legal and institutional changes in the areas of intellectual property rights and contingency measures. The Chairperson had no doubt that Members would have a great interest in both the content and implementation of these new laws. 1.9. As noted in the Secretariat report, Mauritius had a relatively diversified economy and it was interesting to see how the country was looking to make the most of all of its assets. The services sector was Mauritius' main economic engine, and efforts were underway to build up the ICT sector as a key pillar of the economy and develop air and maritime hubs. Mauritius, through its Ocean Economy strategy, was considering how it could capitalize on its huge exclusive economic zone WT/TPR/W/72 • Djibouti and Mauritius - 4 - and it was actively re-orientating its agricultural sector in the face of changing market access conditions for its exports. It was interesting to hear more from Mauritius about the implementation of these various initiatives, the results achieved and challenges faced. 1.10. The reports and questions from Members and the replies from Djibouti and Mauritius had covered a wide range of issues. The Chairperson was sure that these would be touched upon in greater detail at the deliberations on the first and second day of the meeting. Members could access the podcast of this meeting on the Members' website after the first day of the meeting. WT/TPR/W/72 • Djibouti and Mauritius - 5 - 2 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF DJIBOUTI (H.E. MR HASSAN AHMED BOULALEH) 2.1. C’est pour moi un grand honneur de présenter le second Examen de la politique commerciale de la République de Djibouti. 2.2. Je voudrais remercier les délégués ici présents pour l’intérêt qu’ils portent au présent exercice collectif qui vise à comprendre les politiques et pratiques commerciales de la République de Djibouti et de l’Ile Maurice. Je pense que nos échanges seront francs, concrets et mutuellement bénéfiques. 2.3. Excellence, Madame la Présidente, je vous remercie pour vos paroles de bienvenue et d’introduction au second Examen de la politique commerciale de mon pays. Je remercie également, S.E. M. l’Ambassadeur Gabriel Duque de la Colombie d’avoir accepté d’être présentateur afin d'aider à stimuler un débat constructif. 2.4. Je voudrais aussi remercier l’équipe du Secrétariat de l’OMC pour son excellent travail dans la rédaction du rapport sur la politique commerciale de Djibouti. La République de Djibouti et le système commercial multilatéral 2.5. La république de Djibouti est située dans un carrefour commercial entre l’Afrique et l’Asie et, en particulier, la péninsule arabique. C’est une terre d’échanges et de rencontre et le commerce est ancré dans la mémoire de notre population. C’est aussi un pays très stable de la Corne de l’Afrique. 2.6. La République de Djibouti est fermement convaincue qu'un système commercial multilatéral fondé sur des règles dans le cadre de l'OMC est nécessaire pour préserver les intérêts des pays en développement, ainsi que pour garantir que le commerce mondial s'effectue de manière ordonnée. Le Gouvernement de Djibouti poursuit ses efforts en faveur d'une conclusion rapide des négociations du Cycle de Doha car il en découlerait des avantages