. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/NG/W/179
12 April 2001
(01-1885)
Committee on Agriculture
Special SessionOriginal:  English
SEVENTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
26-28 MARCH 2001
Statement by Mauritius
We have first of all to thank you for the excellent manner in which you have chaired our
meetings.  Our thanks equally go to the Secretariat for the various papers submitted to us in order to
facilitate the first phase of the negotiations.
The first phase has proceeded fairly smoothly and numerous countries, alone or in
collaboration with others, have submitted comprehensive negotiating proposals or technical notes.
The submissions emanating from several interest groups, multi-commodity exporting countries,
importing countries, SIDS, land locked countries, LDCs, NFIDCs and economies in transition have
firstly, indicated to us the depth and extent of the work ahead of us and secondly, unequivocally
demonstrated to us all that each country has legitimate trade and non-trade concerns.  In this regard,Mauritius fully shares the view of the EC that there is no more a single developed country nor a single
developing country position.  These concerns have not only to be taken into account, but more
importantly they have to be attended to.
Mauritius has participated in three submissions, G/AG/NG/W/36 on Non-Trade Concerns
together with some 26 countries coming from most of the interest groups referred to earlier;
G/AG/NG/W/97 along with eight small island develo ping states; and G/AG/ NG/W/142 along with the
African Group.
In addition, Mauritius has submitted a comprehensive proposal as G/AG/NG/W/96 where it
has highlighted its inherent constraints as a SIDS which is dependent upon preferential trade accords
and has made proposals from its perspective as a SIDS in respect of non-trade concerns, food security,S&D, market access, domestic support and export competition.
Mauritius has also drawn attention to the issues and agreements which are closely linked to
the negotiations in agriculture, namely, geographical indications and the SPS Agreement.  In the
African group paper reference is made to TBT issues.
A meaningful outcome for us in agriculture should not only be in respect of the Agreement on
Agriculture but also one which takes on board related issues and agreements.  It is not our intent to
bring other issues for the sake of it, our purpose is to create an environment which facilitates our
access, enhances our competitivity and enables us to target niche markets.  By so doing we are not incompetition with the efficient bulk exporters.
We intend in this phase to have a more focussed approach on the various issues that have
been spelt out in the Members' proposals as well as in the statements on proposals made by Members
and recorded under the W series.  Agriculture is vital for a SIDS like Mauritius, indeed, it fulfils a
very important multifunctional role.  Accordingly, Mauritius would participate in a constructive
manner in this phase so that we achieve the progress that can be reasonably expected from this phase.G/AG/NG/W/179
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We all want equitable results.  However, equitable does not mean "a level playing field" nor
does it imply "a one size fits all" approach.  Instead, an equitable outcome would be one which has
reckoned with and addressed the constraints of low potential areas, the vulnerability of SIDS and
landlocked countries as well as the burden imposed by the Uruguay Round in developing countries
generally but more particularly on the NFIDCs and the LDCs.
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