Brussels, 20 October 2017/ ACP:
Ministers and senior officials responsible for Trade from 79 African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries reaffirmed their strong and
resounding commitment to the multilateral trading system, at the
conclusion of the 20th ACP Ministerial Trade Committee meeting held in
Brussels on 18-19 October.
The meeting, chaired by the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Hon. Carl B. Greenidge focussed
on enhancing intra-ACP trade, including through a joint approach to
commodities and agricultural value chains, as well as examining trade
issues between the ACP and EU countries. This was in preparation for
joint meetings with the European Commission on 20 October, covering
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), trade regime issues, capacity
building, and non-cooperative tax jurisdictions amongst others.
Ministers
also discussed critical elements related to the 11th Ministerial
Conference (MC11) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to be held 10-13 December
in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The MC11 meeting will bring together more
than 160 countries to continue multilateral negotiations on rules for
international trade amongst members.
"The
rules-based multilateral system must be sustained as it promotes a
fairer trading system that increases opportunities for developing
countries, including those in the ACP Group of States," said ACP Secretary General H.E. Dr. Patrick Gomes.
"However, this system is under threat today, and the changing dynamics
in the WTO negotiations are undoubtedly making the achievement of
development-oriented results difficult."
Ministers
heard presentations from the Director General of the WTO, Mr. Roberto
Azevedo, the Chair of the WTO Ministerial Conference, Amb. Susana
Malcorra of Argentina, as well as the Coordinator of the ACP Group in
Geneva, Amb. John Ronald Deep Ford of Guyana. They reported on
preparations for MC11, including challenges in terms of the level of
ambition and nature of expected results.
During
the meeting, ACP ministers urged concrete outcomes at the forthcoming
MC11 meeting in Buenos Aires, to send a strong message that the
multilateral system works. At the same time, the imperative for outcomes
at MC11 be aligned with the globally endorsed Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), including SDG 14.6 on fisheries to protect the world
fishing stocks, and SDG 2 to end hunger by advancing food security
through public stockholding.
Ministers
called for inclusiveness, consensus and transparency in all WTO
decision-making processes, as well as careful framing of any reform
evaluation of the WTO to ensure that the interests of all countries are
protected. A robust MC11 work programme must be formulated,
characterised by strong commitment to development, while recognising
differences between developed, developing and least developed countries.
The
meeting highlighted the need to more proactively recognise and
implement rules that enable recovery and development of small vulnerable
economies, which are especially exposed to external shocks, including
natural disasters. Representatives also committed to increased
integration, unity and solidarity of the ACP Group of States, including
taking more joint ACP approaches to trade and development.
These
elements are captured in a declaration by the ministers on the 11th WTO
Ministerial Conference, where Guyana will act as the spokesperson for
the ACP Group. /
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