URFIG-supported Document about WTO
LDCs
RESPONSE TO WTO DRAFT DECLARATION
By Martin KHOR (Third World Network)
(5 October, 2001)
Attached is a
statement by the Tanzanian Ambassador Mr Ali Mchumo on behalf of the least
developed countries in the WTO that was presented at the WTO informal meeting on
2 October. The statement is the response of the LDCs (of which there are about
40 countries in the WTO) to the draft Ministerial Declaration for Doha and
contains their proposals for what to include or exclude.
The statement is noteworthy for (1) asking that the declaration state that
development should be at the centre of WTO activity and that a Development
Agenda be adopted to correct imbalances and existing problems facing developing
countries; (2) stating that the LDCs are not prepared to launch negotiations on
the new issues of investment, competition, government procurement, trade
facilitation; (3) stating that LDCs do not want negotiations on tariff cuts in
industrial products as their local industries have already suffered closure and
job losses under previous tariff cuts; (4) a detailed set of proposals on TRIPS
(including prohibition of patents on life forms and allowing countries to
exclude patents for medicines); and (5) a set of concrete proposals on LDCs'
special requests.
The statement made a major impact as it represents the views of so many
countries and of the poorest Members of WTO.
We will try to put out more statements as we get them.
Best wishes
Martin Khor
Third World Network