Prior to WTO ministerial meet, developing countries seek clarity in processes, talks

NEW DELHI: Calling for transparent and predictable negotiations and outcomes at the forthcoming ministerial meet of the World Trade Organization ( WTO) in Buenos Aires, a group of 46 developing countries from Africa and South America nations have suggested getting sufficient time for consultations before closing in on any decision at the key conference beginning Sunday.

In a submission to the WTO, they said the process leading to, during, and after the ministerial conference must be predictable and reflect the guiding principles in the WTO and Doha Development Agenda negotiations.

"...namely, full member participation, inclusive, transparent, predictable, and bottom-up processes, with consensus-based member-driven negotiations, decisions and outcomes," said a group of African countries along with Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.

On WTO director general Roberto Azevedo's recent suggestion of appointing ‘minister facilitators’ at the conference to convene meetings and facilitate negotiations, they said in the paper: "persons should be from members that do not have a direct interest in the subject assigned for consultations and meetings".

Azevedo had suggested putting in place minister facilitators for orderly management of issues in agriculture, development, rules, e-commerce and services for the ministerial scheduled to take place from December 10-13.

The developing countries have also asked all meetings of the conference to be open to all countries.

"Developing countries are speaking out against the undemocratic processes," said Biswajit Dhar, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Citing capacity and resource constraints of smaller delegations, the developing countries want only one negotiating body to meet at a same time and have opposed extended late night negotiating sessions.

"A lot of times developed countries with big delegations keep late night negotiations to tire out the smaller ones. This practice does take a toll on the decision making process", said a person aware of the development.

Further, the 46 nations have also emphasised that no outcome document should be imposed on a "take it or leave it basis".

"Members shall not only be sufficiently consulted, but they shall also be provided with adequate notice on the nature and content of the outcome document," they said in the document.

Special & differential treatment at core

Irrespective of the form of the outcome of the negotiations at the eleventh ministerial conference, these countries emphasised on development, in particular Special and Differential Treatment provisions, to remain at the core of both existing and future WTO Agreements.

"The centrality of development in the WTO, is the raison d'e^tre of our membership," they said even as they reiterated the need to conclude the remaining elements of the Doha Development Agenda.