Geneva, 1 October 1999
ECE/GEN/99/23
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES OF THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS STRESS
IMPROVED MARKET ACCESS AND URGENT CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE URUGUAY ROUND
New York briefing highlights priorities
of the developing countries as underscored in the regional meetings preparatory to the WTO
Ministerial Conference in Seattle
Enhancing trade benefits for the developing countries, including in
particular the least developed and island developing countries as well as the economies in
transition, should be among the highest priority objectives of the Third WTO Ministerial
Conference, to be held in Seattle, USA next November. The negotiations should
significantly improve the market access for products and services of export interest to
them, most importantly the agricultural and primary products, textile sector and the
liberalization of labour movements.
These were underscored at an informal briefing given by the
Executive Secretaries of the five UN regional commissions for the delegations attending
the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly as well as for the secretariat staff and
NGO representatives in New York, on 29 September 1999. Chaired by the Vice-President of
ECOSOC, Ambassador Makarim Wibisono of Indonesia, the participants in the briefing were
informed of the results of the regional preparatory meetings and consultations on the WTO
conference by the Executive Secretaries of ECE, ESCAP, ECLAC and ESCWA, as well as a
representative of ECA. In a resolution adopted by the ECOSOC on the review of the regional
commissions last year, the Executive Secretaries were encouraged to organize such periodic
briefings in New York to bring the regional perspectives on various substantive issues of
global concern.
Stressing the finding that many developing countries, especially
in Africa, have been adversely affected by the implementation of the Uruguay Round
agreements, the Executive Secretaries emphasized that the upcoming multilateral trade
negotiations should include provision for early harvest for those disadvantaged countries
and should accommodate their concerns about getting increasingly marginalized by the
onslaught of globalization. A balanced system of rights and obligations within WTO should
be secured.
The regional meetings and consultations had further stressed that
priority should be given to consolidating the gains of the Uruguay Round, rather than
opening up new areas for market liberalization. Many developing countries still lack
capacity to adjust their trade regimes and to implement the large number of complex
agreements, including in particular those on TRIPs and TRIMs, which characterized the
Uruguay Round. There were also increasing concerns about the proliferation of technical
standards, lack of progress in anti-dumping measures, and widespread application of other
market restricting measures which are hindering the export prospects of the developing
countries. The WTO dispute settlement mechanisms also remain beyond the reach of many
developing countries, both due to their costly nature and lack of technical capacities in
those countries.
A continuing major drawback of the Uruguay Round and the Seattle
Ministerial Conference is the inability of a large number of developing countries join the
WTO framework due to their non-membership of WTO. The regional consultations had stressed
that the Seattle Conference must find a way to address their concerns and to safeguard
their interests in the negotiations.
All of the regional commissions have considerable activities in the trade field which
are aimed at promoting regional trade and trade facilitation. Often, those activities are
undertaken in cooperation with WTO and especially with UNCTAD and, at times, with the
involvement of other regional institutions including the regional development banks. Most
recently, WTO and ESCAP signed a Memorandum of Understanding last August to institute a
joint training programme. The activities are undertaken by the regional commissions in a
pursuance of regional mandates and specific action programmes, such as the establishment
of the African Economic Community.
For further information, please contact:
Information Unit
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
Palais des Nations, Room 356
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 44 44
Fax: +41 22 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/press/press_h.htm