The Suspension of the WTO DDA Negotiations: Scenarios and identification of pressure points for Developing Countries.
This note identifies some opportunities and challenges that the suspension of the WTO Doha negotiations has created for developing countries. In fact, an early identification of pressure points in the negotiations can contribute to the preparedness of developing country delegations for the time negotiations resume. (more…)
Some reasons not to negotiate export taxes and restrictions in the WTO NAMA Negotiations.
This Analysis briefly examines some of the economic and policy reasons behind the application of export taxes and export restrictions in developing countries. The elements enumerated in this note provide arguments against negotiations aimed at further restricting the use of this type of policy tools, as currently being proposed by developed countries in the WTO NAMA negotiations. (more…)
NAMA State of Play: Countries Negotiating Positions.
This note presents, in a schematic form, the negotiating positions of selected WTO Members or Groups of Members in the WTO Negotiations on Non- Agricultural Market Access (NAMA). (more…)
The underlying message of this paper is that aid for trade is important to mitigate trade-induced adjustment costs and to bolster supply-side capacity in developing countries. However, aid is only second-best to balanced, fair and equitable trading rules. (more…)
South Centre Analysis on the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration.
The South Centre Analysis of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration evaluates the developments in the Doha Work Programme since the launch of the Round, examines the implications of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration and identifies some important strategic issues for developing countries that need to be considered in subsequent negotiation. (more…)
Project to support Developing Countries in WTO NAMA Negotiations.
This note presents a brief assessment of individual elements of the NAMA section of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration and highlights possible strategies available to developing country negotiators in the aftermath of Hong Kong. (more…)
Identification of Priorities and a Road Map in NAMA for the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference.
In his commentaries of 8 and 27 July 2005, the Chairman of the Negotiating Market Access (NGMA) has both reviewed progress in several areas of the NAMA negotiations and identified issues that will require delegations attention in the run-up to the VI WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. (more…)
A Formula for Tariff Cuts: Some Considerations with Respect to Developing Countries’ Tariff Profiles.
One of the most important elements of the mandate contained in Paragraph 16 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, and one that has attracted the foremost attention of negotiators after the adoption of the Declaration, concerns the reduction or, as appropriate, the elimination of tariffs. (more…)
Revenue Implications of WTO NAMA Tariff Reduction.
It is generally accepted that trade liberalisation could have a detrimental impact on developing countries’ government revenue. Indeed, since tariffs collected at the border represent a large share of total government revenues in many WTO developing country members, an overall reduction or elimination of tariffs as a result of NAMA negotiations would force governments to find alternative sources of revenue. (more…)
On 31 July 2004, the WTO General Council decided to establish a framework for continued negotiations under the Doha Work Programme set out in the Doha Ministerial Declaration (DMD, WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1) of 2001. This note seeks to present a content analysis of the WTO General Council Decision of 31 July 2004 (WT/GC/W/535). (more…)
The Balance of Negotiations and Discussions in the Doha Work Programme: Overview Matrix of Negotiating and Non-Negotiating Areas.
The Doha Ministerial Conference of the WTO, held in November 2001, launched an ambitious work programme. The discussions/ negotiations initiated under this work programme include a number of issues in addition to the WTO built-in agenda and purely trade-related issues. (more…)