|
||
|
TWN
Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Mar26/36) MC14:
Draft declaration on WTO reform reflects concerns of five nations Yaounde, 29 Mar (D. Ravi Kanth) -- A "draft Yaounde Ministerial Declaration on WTO Reform" apparently issued by the Norwegian foreign minister on 28 March night appears to have been amended to reflect the concerns raised by five countries - the United States, Paraguay, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh - at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, said participants familiar with the development. The draft declaration shared with the SUNS in the early morning of 29 March states: "We acknowledge that the WTO faces serious challenges that require necessary reform," and that "while we hold differing views on the challenges and solutions, we commit to work urgently and in good faith following MC14 to advance reforms, recalling the progress and outcomes made in MC12 and MC13." The draft is expected to come up for discussion on 29 March and will need to be adopted on the basis of a consensus framework. The draft states that trade ministers present at the meeting "instruct our officials to intensify their work with a view to providing concrete and substantive recommendations for action by MC15. We will undertake a mid-term review in advance of MC15 to assess progress and provide further directions." It argues that "Members engaged in reform discussions leading up to MC14 in various areas, including the three areas as reflected in the Reform Facilitator's Reports: Decision-making, Development, including S&DT, and Level Playing Field," adding that work on these three issues "will continue post MC14." The draft further states, "We also had discussions on Foundational Issues at MC14 - including systemic issues such as WTO principles and the balance of rights and obligations," in an apparent giveaway to the US demand for discussing the issue of changing the most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment principle as well as transparency and the functioning of the WTO Secretariat. "Post MC14 discussions will include these issues," it said. Among other things, further context is in the Facilitator's reports and the reports of the MC14 Minister-Facilitators, it added. On dispute settlement, it merely acknowledged that "the WTO Dispute Settlement System is not fully and well-functioning and needs to be reformed. We agree that consultations on dispute settlement reform, under the auspices of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), should continue following MC14." In another apparent acceptance of the demand by the five countries, the draft said: "Work will be conducted under the authority of the General Council. Dispute Settlement Reform will be under the auspices of the DSB. The WTO Reform process shall be Member-driven, open, transparent, and inclusive, and address the interests of all Members." The appointment of WTO Reform Facilitators, a process that was arbitrarily undertaken in the appointment of the controversial Norwegian trade envoy Ambassador Petter Olberg, is now being corrected, as per the draft. It said: "WTO Reform Facilitators for each of the reform areas shall be appointed by decision of the General Council at its meeting." Further, it states somewhat unambiguously, while reflecting India's main concern, that "the General Council Chairperson will oversee and coordinate the overall process to ensure coherence across workstreams and avoid scheduling overlaps. The capacity constraints of Members, especially of resource-constrained delegations, will be taken into account in scheduling meetings." On indicative timelines/checkpoints, the draft states: "Work will resume in April 2026" and, more importantly, "Progress reports to the General Council will be provided in July 2026, December 2026, July 2027, and December 2027, with senior officials participating as necessary." It also suggests at least "one midway review ahead of MC15. The report produced in July 2026 may include, but shall not be limited to, a stocktaking across all identified reform areas." Finally, it touches on the issue of "flexibility," under which it claims that "the Work Plan is designed to remain flexible to ensure responsiveness and institutional agility." According to the draft, "The identification of any particular issue as a "focus" issue or an otherwise important issue will not be interpreted in any way as limiting the scope of issues Members can address in the reform process or imply any particular sequencing. Moreover, this reform process will be without prejudice to work in any WTO committee or other body." FULL TEXT The full text is as follows: "DRAFT YAOUNDE MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON WTO REFORM We recognize the contribution of the WTO to the economic growth of its Members over the past 30 years and that it continues to perform valuable functions. At the same time, we acknowledge that the WTO faces serious challenges that require necessary reform. While we hold differing views on the challenges and solutions, we commit to work urgently and in good faith following MC14 to advance reforms, recalling the progress and outcomes made in MC12 and MC13. In this context, we instruct our officials to intensify their work with a view to providing concrete and substantive recommendations for action by MC15. We will undertake a mid-term review in advance of MC15 to assess progress and provide further directions. WTO REFORM WORK PLAN Decision-Making, Development, including S&DT, Level Playing Field Issues and Foundational Issues We note that Members engaged in reform discussions leading up to MC14 in various areas, including the three areas as reflected in the Reform Facilitator's Reports: Decision-making, Development, including S&DT, and Level Playing Field. We engaged in discussions on these areas at Yaounde and agree that work on these three issues will continue post MC14. We also had discussions on Foundational Issues at MC14 - including systemic issues such as WTO principles and the balance of rights and obligations. Post MC14 discussions will include these issues. Among other things, further context is in the Facilitator's reports and the reports of the MC14 Minister Facilitators. Dispute Settlement We acknowledge that the WTO Dispute Settlement System is not fully and well-functioning and needs to be reformed. We agree that consultations on dispute settlement reform, under the auspices of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), should continue following MC14. Modalities Authority: Work will be conducted under the authority of the General Council. Dispute Settlement Reform will be under the auspices of the DSB. The WTO Reform process shall be Member-driven, open, transparent, and inclusive, and address the interests of all Members. WTO Reform Facilitators for each of the reform areas shall be appointed by decision of the General Council at its next meeting. Failing that, the General Council Chairperson shall appoint Facilitators based on consultations with Members. Facilitators will facilitate discussions based on Members' submissions and contributions. They shall be accountable, and report regularly, to the General Council. The General Council Chairperson will oversee and coordinate the overall process to ensure coherence across workstreams and avoid scheduling overlaps. The capacity constraints of Members, especially of resource- constrained delegations, will be taken into account in scheduling meetings. Indicative Timelines/checkpoints: Work will resume in April 2026. Progress reports to the General Council will be provided in July 2026, December 2026, July 2027, and December 2027, with senior officials participating as necessary. We will conduct at least one midway review ahead of MC15. The report produced in July 2026 may include, but shall not be limited to, a stocktaking across all identified reform areas. Flexibility: The Work Plan is designed to remain flexible to ensure responsiveness and institutional agility. The identification of any particular issue as a "focus" issue or an otherwise important issue will not be interpreted in any way as limiting the scope of issues Members can address in the reform process or imply any particular sequencing. Moreover, this reform process will be without prejudice to work in any WTO committee or other body." +
|
||
