Bangladesh on Thursday demanded relaxation of rules of origin, duty and quota-free access to LDC products to developed countries, as well as preferential market access to service sectors, at the ninth ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Taking part in a discussion on Thursday, the third day of the WTO conference in Bali, Indonesia, Bangladesh commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed urged member-countries to take a decision on these points. He also asked them to include the cotton issue in the Bali package.
On Tuesday, all 49 least-developed countries (LDCs) agreed to support Bangladesh’s four demands that would enhance its trade privileges.
Highlighting the importance of market access, rules of origin, and trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building, the Bangladesh delegate said these remain serious problems for the LDCs. Why the LDCs, constituting 49 countries, represent only one per cent of the world trade is also curious and should be addressed, said some member-countries.
According to sources, the Bali conference can be a turning point and lead to enhanced market access opportunities. If the member-countries agree to the four demands raised by Bangladesh at the ministerial conference, it would greatly help Bangladesh to have zero-duty entry of garment products to the US.
At present, the country pays 15.3 per cent duty on garment export to the US, although duty benefit was promised in the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Conference in 2005. As a result, Bangladeshi garment exporters paid USD 746 million as duty to the US customs in 2012 for exporting a little above USD 5 billion worth of garment products.
According to Dhaka, the negotiations at Bali would continue till the concluding session on Friday. The commerce secretary, however, welcomed the decision of allowing least developed countries some more time to implement the TRIPS Agreement, including its flexibilities. The commerce secretary has suggested a post-Bali road map that would represent the work needed under various negotiating “tracks” essential to reach the goal of development.
The Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, inaugurated the ministerial conference at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre (BNDCC) on Tuesday. Delegates from 169 countries, including ministers, media activists, NGOs and representatives of different international organisations are attending the meet.
Issues pertaining to LDCs, monitoring mechanism for special and differential treatment, post-Bali agenda, regular activities of the WTO, subsidies in agriculture and trade facilitation are being discussed at the crucial conference.
The WTO chief Roberto Azevedo urged delegates to reach a modest agreement on key trade issues, hoping it would keep alive the stumbling 12-year-old drive to slash international trade barriers. “We will not disappear with the passage of time if we fail to reach a consensus at Bali. We will continue delivering, but a consensus is essential for reduction of poverty and to generate more employment,” he said before leaving the ministers to continue with trade negotiations.
-With The Independent input
