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WTO NEW ROUND of NEGOTIATIONS: the Doha Ministerial Conference and Post Doha Agenda

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WTO NEW ROUND of NEGOTIATIONS: the Doha Ministerial Conference and Post Doha Agenda WTO NEW ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS: The Doha Ministerial Conference and Post Doha Agenda edited by Medicine Masiiwa and Phoecena Nyatanga July 2002 Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Department for Development Policy - Dialogue on Globalization - Hiroshimastr. 17 10785 Berlin Tel.:0049-30-26936-914 Fax: 0049-30-26935-959 [email protected] www.fes.de/globalization The opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Friedrich-Ebert- Stiftung or the organisations for which the author works. 02/04/03 17:15 Published by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung TRADES CENTRE 6 Ross Avenue, Belgravia 3 Downie Avenue P. O. Box 4720 Belgravia Harare Harare Tel: 723866 / 705587 Tel: 790441 Fax: 723867 Fax: 790431 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] 2 ABBREVIATIONS 3MC Third Ministerial Conference CAP Common Agriculture Po licy CARICOM Carribean Community COMESA Common Market For Eastern and Southern Africa COW Conference of the Whole CTE Committee on Trade and Environment DSU Dispute Settlement Unit DTI Department of Trade and Industry EU European Union FES Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung GATT General Agreement On Tariffs and Trade GEAR Growth Employment and Redistribution Programme GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms IMF International Monetary Fund Initiative LDCs Less Developed Countries LMG like-minded Group LMO Living Modified Organisms MAI Multilateral Agreements on Investment MFN Most Favored Nation NAFTA North Atlantic Free Trade Area NGOs Non Governmental Organisations NIFCs Net Food-Importing countries NTCs Non Trade Concerns OAU Organisation of African Unity OECD Oil Exporting Countries RTAs Regional Trade Agreements SADC Southern Africa Development Community SDTs Special and Differential Terms SEATINI Southern and East African Trade Information Negotiations SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards TBT Technical Barriers to Trade TRIPS Trade Related International property Rights UN United Nations UNCTAD United Nations Commission on Trade and Development URAs Uruguay Round Agreements USA United States of America USTR United States Trade Representative WB World Bank WTO World Trade Organisation 3 AKNOWLEDGEMENTS It has generally become less contested that globalisation is reality and no one can stop it any more. Competitors in the global village would rather find themselves inside the moving global train rather than under its wheels. The question which SADC must ask itself today is no longer whether or not to join the global train, but how best the region influence agenda and decisions in WTO? The region can only develop sound strategies if its people are well informed and knowledgeable on their interests and threats of today, tomorrow and those coming in the next fifty to hundred years. This book in based on a regional workshop on the same topic and held in Vumba, Zimbabwe on 8-10 May 2002. The workshop was jointly organised by Trades Centre and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and I would not want to miss this opportunity to thank the organisers for their vision, zeal and determination in coming up with this fruitful workshop. This is not the first time that the two organisations have organised such an important discussion forum. They have previously held very successful similar workshops and conferences on globalisation issues as they affect Africa in general and SADC in particular. This particular workshop is a follow up to the one organised in the aftermath of the failed WTO Ministerial conference in Seattle. Aim of the workshop was to: 1. Take an audit of what SADC countries had expected from the WTO Doha Ministerial Conference (per each WTO agreement) against the outcomes from Doha. 2. Discuss emerging controversies in the interpretation of what was agreed in Doha – focusing on main areas of concern to developing countries. 3. Discuss the WTO Post Doha process particularly the necessary preparations and steps for SADC in view of the current WTO new round of trade negotiations. 4. Making an analysis of the commitments in the WTO Doha conference, for instance the emerging interpretations or controversies. The depth and seriousness of both presentations and discussions, as attested in this book, clearly show that SADC people do not take globalisation issues lightly, but have come to realise that through WTO, they can shape the future of their economies and thereby decide their own destiny. We again take this opportunity to extend our unrestricted appreciation to all presenters and participants at the workshop for their fruitful input to the success of the workshop, culminating into this book. The success of both the workshop and this book has been possible due to the generous funding by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Harare. We are particularly grateful to Dr. Felix Schmidt, Resident Director of the foundation for his support. It is our sincere hope that such support will continue till to a point where SADC people adequately capacitated (financially and technically) to take full responsibility of their developmental needs. Medicine Masiiwa - Editor 4 PREFACE The changing patterns of economic activity under the momentum of globalisation, demand that countries in Africa build strategic alliances for the protection of the continent’s interests. SADC certainly provides a foundation for a strong economic integration based on tradition culture as well as historical ties of its people. It is important that the region defines its interests and try to push for these interests in global forums such as the WTO. The new economic dispensation imposed by globalisation also demands that SADC depart from the traditional bilateral ties based on the export primary commodities and imports of high value finished goods. The region should identify areas where it is more competitive on the global markets and exploit every opportunity offered by WTO to maximise benefits and reduce costs. Crucial to achieve these aims is to develop the ability to identify emerging areas in which SADC has comparative advantage and areas of high rent and then the capacity to appropriate those rents that are realistically within grasp and to develop the capacity to adjust quickly to changing circumstances of rent maximisation and comparative advantage. Since the late 1980s, the region experienced serious economic problems which have seen its people sink further into poverty and need. Prices of the region’s export commodities (agricultural and minerals) in the world market slumped as it faced more competition from other regions. Now that the WTO seeks to further harmonise global trading regimes, SADC must gear itself not only to increased competition, but also to export opportunities that never existed before. However, what is currently needed in order to realise these opportunities is information and knowledge on how to tap such potential. It is against this background that Trade and Development Studies Centre [TRADES CENTRE] and FES –Harare office initiated a series of studies and workshops culminating into the compilation of this book on The New WTO Round of Negotiations and the Post Doha Agenda. It is our sincere hope that information contained in this book goes a long way to fill an information gap on globalisation challenges and how SADC as a region can respond to these challenges. Dr. Felix Schmidt Dr. M. Tekere Resident Director – FES, Harare Director – TRADES Centre 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………………….. i AKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………………. ii PREFACE…………………………………………………………………………………. iii ASSESSMENT OF THE DOHA MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Dr H.M. Murerwa…………………………………………………………………………. 8 ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE – Expectations, Content of Declaration and Emerging Controversies In Interpreting What Was Agreed In Doha. Julius Mathende…………………………………………………………………………… 12 AGRICULTURE IN THE DOHA DECLARATION Kennedy Mbekeani………………………………………………………………………… 25 POST DOHA WTO NEEDS A FAIR AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE AND BALANCED WTO STRUCTURES Dr. M. Masiiwa……………………………………………………………………………. 29 SADC AND THE POST DOHA NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE IN SERVICES Prof. M. Ndulo…………………………………………………………………………….. 43 MARKET ACCESS FOR NON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS A CAUTIOUS APPROACH Dr. Boodhoo……………………………………………………………………………….. 50 MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS: Situation for SADC – The expectations from Doha, content of declaration and emerging controversies in interpretation of what was agreed in Doha. A. Nhara…………………………………………………………………………………… 57 MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS: SITUATION FOR SADC – The Expectations From Doha and Emerging Controversies in Interpretation On What Was Agreed In Doha Dr. D. B. Ndlela…………………………………………………………………………… 65 TRIPS AND SADC EXPECTATIONS IN DOHA: Emerging Controversies in Interpretation Of What Was Agreed T. A. Mushita ……………………………………………………………………………..70 TRADE AND INVESTMENT – SADC SITUATION, Content of Declaration and Emerging Controversies in Interpretation of What Was Agreed In Doha and Conflict of Interest Between North and South Dr. Boodhoo………………………………………………………………………………. 75 6 TRADE, DEBT AND FINANCE – SADC Situation, Content Of Declaration and Emerging Controversies in Interpretation of What Was Agreed in Doha and Conflict of Interests Between North and South Dr. M. Tekere ……………………………………………………………………………..82 KEY ISSUES ARISING FROM DOHA DECLARATION: Trade Facilitation, Dispute Settlement Understanding, Trade and Environment, E-Commerce and Transfer of Technology C. Mbegabolawe………………………………………………………………100 ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE DOHA WORK PROGRAMME B.G. Chidyausiku………………………………………………………………………….
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