Note: Advance written questions by WTO Members and replies provided by the Government of
Maldives are reproduced in document WT/TPR/M/110/Add.1 and will be available online
at:  http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/TPR/M/110
5 March 2003
(03-1262)
Trade Policy Review Body
15 and 17 January 2003
TRADE POLICY REVIEW
MALDIVES
Minutes of Meeting
Chairperson:  H.E. Ms. Amina Chawahir Mohamed (Kenya)
Page
I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 3II. OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MALDIVES 4III. STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT 5
IV. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY 6
V. REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MALDIVES AND ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS 9
VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 11WT/TPR/M/110
Page 3
I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON
1. The first Trade Policy Review of the Maldives was held on 15 and 17 January 2003.  The
Chairperson welcomed the delegation from the Maldives lead by Mr. Fazeel Najeeb, Deputy Director,
International Cooperation, Ministry of Trade and Industries, and the discussant, H.E. Mr. K. M.
Chandrasekhar (India).  As usual, the discussant would speak in his personal capacity and, inaccordance with the established procedures, had circulated in advance an outline of the main issues he
intended to raise (document WT/TPR/D/89).
2. The Chairperson recalled the purpose of the Trade Policy Reviews and the main procedures of
the meeting.  The report by the Government of the Maldives was contained in document
WT/TPR/G/110 and that of the WTO Secretariat in document WT/TPR/S/110.  Delegations of
Canada, Korea, India, Japan, the European Union and the United States had submitted advance
written questions, and these had been transmitted to the Maldivian delegation.  These questions, andthe replies provided by the delegation of the Maldives, are reproduced in WT/TPR/M/110/Add.1.
3. The Chairperson noted that the Maldives, a ne t food-importing country with a narrow export
base, had faced tough challenges from falling world fish prices, rising oil prices, declining tourist
arrivals due to the adverse effects of 11 September 2001, and the prospects of LDC graduation.  The
relatively weak private sector and an active public sector aimed at meeting a wide range of basicneeds for the population, as well as the geographical and environmental limitations, were among the
main challenges to sustainable growth. The trade regime consisted of few barriers. The Government's
approach to establish conditions for brisk commerce and economic activity by 2020 was encouraging.
The Chairperson felt that members would appreciate  details on how the Government would meet this
long-term objective and integrate trade policy into its development plans, and of how it planned todefend the Maldives' economic interests at the WTO.WT/TPR/M/110
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II. OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MALDIVES
4. The representative of Maldives stated that the domestic market of 270,000 was dispersed over
many islands.  The fragmented nature of the population made it very expensive to provide the
necessary physical infrastructure, and economic activities were difficult to sustain without scale
economies.  Sea-level rise also threatened many islands.  The Maldives had no mineral resources and,with very little agriculture, was a net-food-importing country;  even the major staples of rice, flour
and sugar were imported.  The economy depended on tourism and fishing, which accounted for nearly
40% of the country’s GDP, and employed around 21% of the labour force.  Foreign workers,
especially in tourism and many professions, accounted for nearly 35% of the economically active
local population.
5. Maldives with its external vulnerability was particularly concerned with the possible
consequences of graduation from the UN’s LDC status, at a time when global economic signals weremixed.  While graduation could be taken as a sign of socio-economic progress, the Maldives was
apprehensive of its capacity to deal with the sudden loss or substantial reduction of trade preferences,
development aid, and technical assistance as well as increased international legal obligations.
Without some phasing arrangements on graduation, the Maldives could  slide back into the LDC
category.
6. Maldives strongly supported the rules-based world trading system and had open trade and
investment policies.  It had one of the lowest applied MFN tariffs in south Asia, despite having no
direct tax system and its heavy reliance on import duties for government revenue.  Non-tariff barriers
were few;  import quotas applied only on rice, flour, and sugar.  Import licensing was mainly
automatic, and minimal customs procedures applied.  Trade reforms would continue.  TheGovernment had recently lifted the de facto  export exclusivity of the state-owned enterprise on
unprocessed tuna.  Decreased reliance on tariffs as a revenue source was going to be difficult without
substantial taxation reform.  The Government was examining the introduction of a direct tax system.
7. Maldives was active in South Asia’s economic integration process.  Work towards creating a
free-trade area in the region was targeted for completion during the first half of 2003.
8. The Government recognized the importance of foreign direct investment, particularly when
the country was about to be graduated and lose aid.  The small domestic market meant that much
needed to be done to attract FDI.  The investment regime, with no performance requirements, equity
holding limitations or currency restrictions, was one of the most liberal in the region, and would be
further liberalized.  Prudent macroeconomic management through fiscal and monetary rationalization
was the key to development. The Government was working to develop the financial sector by
strengthening the institutional and legal supervisory framework.
9. Based on the country's Vision 2020 for a more diversified export-oriented economy and
becoming the "hub for regional free trade", the Gove rnment had identified tourism, fishing, and
agriculture as having strong potential.  Private se ctor tourism and fishing had developed successfully
in an environmentally and ecologically friend ly manner.  Increased tourism also provided
opportunities for agricultural development.  Port and logistics, information and communicationtechnology, and financial services had also been identified as clusters with export potential.
Relocating inhabitants on larger islands would enable the provision of physical infrastructure at more
affordable costs, and help create scale economies for industry.  Overcrowding problems on Male were
also being addressed.  A new island, Hulhumale was being built near Male.
10. The Maldives required substantial technical assistance;  areas for assistance had been
identified and submitted to the WTO Secretariat.WT/TPR/M/110
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III. STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT
11. The discussant  (H.E. Mr. K.M. Chandrasekhar) noted that a trade policy review of the
Maldives needed to reflect the country's prevailin g conditions;  a small country spread over many
islands, highly dependent on two environmentally sensitive industries, tourism and fishing.  In
addition, its LDC status was to be reviewed.  Despite these developmental challenges, the Maldiveshad provided remarkably well for its citizens, who had a better quality of life than citizens of similarly
placed developing and least developed countries.  Adult literacy and life expectancy were high, and
steady economic growth since 1980 had lifted it to a lower middle-income country.  Inflation and
unemployment rates were low, and external debt had fallen.  The Maldives had limited administrative
and institutional capacities.  Care was needed to ensure that meeting WTO commitments did not
impose an excessive burden on its already over-stretched resources.
12. All the major economic indicators pointed to a well managed, efficiently run economy.  The
World Bank had commented on the country's sound macroeconomic policies, including the two
periods of fiscal deficits (1983-84, and early 1990s) when corrective action was taken.  Liberalization
measures included reduced import quotas, removal of state monopolies on dried and salted fish
exports and on some distribution activities, amended foreign investment laws to encourage
investment, and removal of sectoral limits on commercial bank lending.
13. Conventional analysis of the Maldives' trade and economic policies needed to be tempered.
Suggestions that tariffs risked distorting resource allocation by protecting inefficient industries failed
to appreciate the country's import dependency and that the relatively high import duties were applied
primarily for revenue reasons to meet developmental needs and to forestall increased fiscal deficits.
The discussant sought the views of the Maldivian delegation on the suggested increased use ofconsumption taxes in lieu of tariffs.  While the rufiya's over-valuation could have affected the
international competitiveness of fishing and tourism, devaluation would substantially affect the
economy, given its heavy import dependency.  In the context of public sector predominance in
manufacturing, the discussant sought details on the Government's plans for implementation of "Vision
2020" to establish brisk commerce, and for the Maldives to become the hub for regional free tradewith a more diversified export-oriented economy, including in services.WT/TPR/M/110
Page 6
IV. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY
14. Members appreciated the Maldives' commitment to the WTO and on-going efforts to meet its
multilateral obligations and maintain relatively open trade and investment regimes.  This commitment
was particularly noteworthy given the significant developmental challenges confronting the Maldives,
a small developing island economy vulnerable to external shocks;  these included the adverse effectsof the 11 September events on tourism, and falling fish prices.
15. The representative of Canada requested details of the plans for the Maldives to become a
regional free trade hub.  He commended its efforts to develop "a more diversified economy with
export-oriented services trade", and for undertaking economic reforms to privatize and restructure
state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and to broaden the tax base.  Canada shared the Maldives' view that
these would enhance private sector participation, improve efficiency and help attract foreign direct
investment (FDI).  He was pleased that the Maldives supported the South Asian Free Trade Area(SAFTA).  He encouraged the authorities to take full advantage of the country's proximity to east
Asian economies and SAARC trading partners.  Canada recognized the challenges faced by small
economies like the Maldives in fully realizing the benefits of trade liberalization, but encouraged the
Maldives to continue revising its trade and investment legal framework to fully implement the WTO
Custom Valuation Agreement and to adopt TRIPS-consistent intellectual property legislation by end2005.
16. The representative of India noted the Maldives' healthy economic performance, although the
economy had been constrained recently by external developments.  These had affected tourism and
fishing, which were major sources of foreign exchange and of government revenue.  It had a narrow
export base, and was a net-food-importing country.  It was encouraging that, despite its vulnerability,the Maldives was making efforts to deepen economic and trade reforms under its sixth National
Development Plan. As an LDC, the Maldives received preferential market access from developed
countries and SAPTA members.  It had complied with WTO obligations.  Impressive growth and
improved social indicators had, however, presented another challenge in the form of proposed LDC
graduation.  Given the smallness of the Maldives and its very narrow production base, Members hadthe collective responsibility to facilitate its effective participation in the multilateral trading system.
17. The representative of Japan appreciated the Maldives' reforms and the privatization of SOEs.
However, Japan was concerned that economic growth had declined recently and that substantial
external deficits remained.  Although trade and investment had been liberalized, deep-rooted
structural weaknesses existed.  The investment regime lacked transparency in parts.  Applied tariff
rates for 149 eight-digit items exceeded bound levels.  While the Maldivian authorities had indicated
that these would be rectified in its on-going tariff revision, observing bound rates was a basic WTOobligation and Japan hoped that this corrective action would occur as early as possible.  Japan
commended efforts to progressively liberalize fishing, including the relaxation of export regulations.
However, the representative sought the reasons for retaining an export licence scheme.  While new
tourism legislation in 1999 increased the maximum lease periods on resort islands to 50-years,
restrictive conditions were attached, such as requ iring the company to be Maldivian registered and
owned.  Japan asked whether these conditions would be reviewed.
18. The representative of the European Union enco uraged the Maldives to continue implementing
WTO-consistent policies to help economic recovery.  The EU was well aware of the constraints the
Government faced in dealing with new global requirements, and that the economy's precarious
reliance on tourism and fishing made it vulnerable to the vagaries of the external environment.  The
Maldives had made major progress in education, health, social, and economic development.  Growth
rates were impressive despite its dispersed geographical coverage, fragile environment, minimum
natural resources, and diseconomies of scale, no doubt linked to its political stability.  Future bilateral
cooperation (2003-06) would likely focus on enhancing regional development (social, economic, and
physical infrastructure).  Infrastructure development should be channelled to selected areas rather thanWT/TPR/M/110
Page 7
spread facilities too thinly across sparsely populated  islands.  As an LDC, the Maldives enjoyed the
most favourable arrangements under the EU's GSP scheme, namely duty-free and quota-free access
arrangements for all its exports to the EU under the Everything-but-Arms (EBA) initiative.  Upon
LDC graduation, it would no longer be an EBA beneficiary.
19. The EU welcomed the aspirations spelled out in Vision 2020 and encouraged the Government
to pursue its objective of establishing the most conducive conditions for brisk commerce and
economic activity, and of becoming the hub for re gional free trade.  The EU recognized that the
integration of small developing (island) economies into the world economy was not easy.  Technical
assistance to the Maldives was important, as was the contribution of its trading partners in ensuring
reliable non-discriminatory access to their markets.
20. The representative of the United States understood the substantial structural economic reforms
that were needed for the Maldives to reduce its ex ternal vulnerability.  He urged the Maldives to
reflect WTO Agreements in domestic legislation so  as to improve transparency and predictability,
which would increase investor confidence.  While commending the Maldives for reforms such as the
lifting of import quotas, reducing export controls, and liberalizing investment laws, the representative
urged further policy reforms to diversify the economy.  The United States recognized the heavy
demands placed on the Maldives to meet its WTO commitments, but felt that greater transparencywas needed in many areas.  Technical assistance would help the Maldives to fully implement WTO
commitments.  The United States requested the Maldives to identify its technical assistance
requirements, and to indicate how the Integrated Framework could help.
21. The representative of Sri Lanka noted that prudent economic policies had contributed to the
Maldives' relatively high economic growth but that this had slowed down in 2000 and 2001 due
mainly to declining tourism.  Despite the economy’s dependence on tourism and limited exports,
social indicators and per capita income had risen impressively to almost twice the maximum level set
by the UN for LDCs.  All tariffs, the main trade policy instrument, were bound.  Only a few formal
non-tariff barriers existed.  Greater computerization in import procedures had facilitated trade.  On-
going changes to national legislation to reflect WTO requirements would make the foreign traderegime more transparent, rules based and predictable.  The Maldives’ biggest challenge was to sustain
reasonable growth and to diversify exports from tourism, fisheries, and apparel;  it remained
vulnerable to external factors affecting tourism and fishing.  Possible LDC graduation posed specific
trade related problems that needed to be addressed if  small nations were to be fully integrated into the
multilateral trading system.  Reliance on tariffs for tax revenue constrained further duty reductions;
these could hamper development unless accompanied by alternative revenue sources.  The loss of the
EU (crucial for canned tuna exports) and SAA RC preferences upon possible LDC graduation would
require further restructuring, especially in fisheries.  Greater market access was needed for exports of
apparel and fisheries so as to prevent the Maldives from sliding back to LDC status.  Technical
assistance was justified to help the Maldives implement WTO-consistent policies.
22. The representative of Hong Kong, China appreciated the Maldives’ commitment to
multilateral trade and plans to become a hub for regional free trade.  Implementing multilateral
commitments would benefit the economy, but technical assistance was needed to address capacity
constraints.  Significant gaps existed between applied MFN and bound rates.  Hong Kong, China
encouraged the Maldives to explore in the curr ent negotiations beneficial areas for further
liberalization and to enhance the certainty and predictability of market access for its products.  He was
pleased to note that that legislation was being prepared to open telecommunications to competition by2008, when the monopoly expired.  His country’s experience from liberalizing telecommunications
suggested that this would deliver higher quality services at lower cost.
23. The representative of Uganda commended the Maldives for its impressive growth, but noted
that it was hovering on the brink of LDC graduation and that it still had underlying structural
problems.  The very narrow export base exemplified many of the dangers confronting small islandWT/TPR/M/110
Page 8
economies.  The narrow tax base relied heavily on tariffs, and precipitous duty reductions without a
widened tax base could raise problems.  Government intervention was through tariffs and state
trading.  The Maldives was a net-food-importing developing country with subsistence agriculture,
therefore food security concerns were especially relevant.  The Maldives had endeavoured to meet its
WTO obligations;  the Trade Policy Review should consider areas where technical assistance couldaddress its supply constraints.
24. The representative of Mauritius noted the vulnerability of the Maldives as a small, remote
island, endowed with limited or no natural resources, and as a net-food-importing developing country
with widespread capacity constraints.  She referred to the decline of the tourism industry, the pillar of
the economy, in the aftermath of the 11 September events.  Mauritius understood concerns over
possible LDC graduation and believed that restrictive criteria, such as per capita income, were
inappropriate benchmarks for defining a country’s economic status and denying access to vitallyneeded soft loans from international finance institutions.  Such criteria did not and could not reflect a
country’s real vulnerability and supply-side constraints.  Graduation would severely affect the
Maldives fish industry, another pillar of the economy, by making such products ineligible for GSP
treatment, and exposing them to competition from other suppliers, such as Thailand.  Therefore, it was
important that the Maldives and other small island developing states not be marginalized .  Mauritius
supported the Maldives’ plea for technical assistance to implement WTO Agreements and within the
Integrated Framework.WT/TPR/M/110
Page 9
V. REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MALDIVES AND ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS
25. The Chairperson invited the representative of the Maldives to focus his responses on three
main themes:  (i) economic environment;  (ii) trade policies and measures;  and (iii) sectoral policies.
(i) Economic environment
26. The representative of Maldives emphasized the challenge of LDC graduation.  There were on-
going efforts to minimize the negative consequences of withdrawal of preferential trade treatment
granted unilaterally by developed countries, and to restructure the economy to address the economic
costs of graduation.  The Maldives had raised concerns in the WTO and elsewhere of the possible
negative consequences of immediate graduation without a transition period.  No precedent existed in
the WTO for dealing with graduating LDCs.  As the Maldives had no mission in Geneva, most of its
concerns to the WTO went unheard.  It had rais ed these concerns in a Dedicated Session on Small
Economies of the Committee on Trade and Development in October 2002, during Geneva Week.  The
Maldives intended to bring its WTO notifications fully up to date as soon as possible.  It was keen for
WTO provisions on small economies to be developed.  The Maldives was committed to the SAARC
Free Trade Area, and a draft treaty was due to be finalized in April/May 2003.  The immediate loss of
EU EBA preferences on graduation would raise tari ffs on Maldivian tuna exports from zero to 19%;
99% of tuna was exported to the EU.
(ii) Trade policies and measures
27. The revised import export law (No. 31 of 1979) was to be completed in 2003 and this would
rectify inconsistencies between the Maldives’ applied and bound tariff rates.  The drafted customs law
incorporated WTO-consistent valuation procedur es.  No contingency measures existed;  WTO-
consistent anti-dumping, countervailing, and safe guards legislation would be desirable.  Import
licensing requirements were minimal and mostly automatic.  Licences were normally issued within
one day.  The Government intended to privatize SOEs in the long run, but the immediate priority was
to first corporatize them.  Minimal standards and SPS regulations existed, but the Maldives would
introduce such WTO-consistent arrangements when needed.  The Tender Evaluation Board evaluatedand awarded all government procurement contracts over Rf 500,000.
28. There were few export procedures and licensi ng requirements.  No export financing or
drawback mechanisms existed.  The Maldives had no intellectual property legislation, but had drafted
a copyright law based on a model provided by WIPO.  Substantial technical assistance was needed in
this area to develop an institutional framework and to implement regulations and legislation.
(iii) Sectoral policies
29. The export-licensing scheme on tuna had been liberalized to allow two private parties to
export tuna from two geographic zones.  Fish from the other two zones was exported by the SOE, but
further private participation would be allowed.  Tourism was open, even though the Maldives had
made no multilateral commitments in this sector.  The exclusivity over the supply of basic
telecommunications would terminate at end-2008, and competition would be introduced.  The
Maldives had no bio-diversity measures, but reserved the right to introduce WTO-consistent measureswhen needed.  It sought WTO technical assistance to develop e-commerce so as to diversify the
economy and take advantage of modern information technology.
30. The discussant referred to the possible affects on exports of an over-valued rufiya, while
recognizing that any devaluation may generate cost-push inflation.  He wondered whether the
Maldives might consider greater use of consumption taxes instead of tariffs.  Sudden LDC graduationlooked awkward given that 43% of Maldivians lived below the poverty line.  To become a hub forWT/TPR/M/110
Page 10
regional free trade the Maldives needed further port development, including privatization, and trade
facilitation.  The discussant wondered whether any assessments of the Maldives’ EEZ fish stocks
existed, and if schemes could be designed for optimum exploitation of fish resources.  Export controls
on fish had been progressively diluted.  However, the discussant thought that some state leadership
was unavoidable, given the inadequate role of private activity and low production.  It wasunderstandable that the state-owned fishing enterpri se, MIFCO, operated a tuna long-liner, despite
initial losses.  Allowing only pole and line fishing facilitated fish conservation ;  purse seiners were
prohibited.  Fish bans applied to nine species, and there were protected marine parks.  The recent slide
in tourism was likely to be temporary.  The Maldives was carefully planning the growth in tourist
facilities ;  it needed to develop essential sea and air services.
31. The representative of India agreed that the consequences of immediate LDC graduation on the
Maldives could be serious.  It would affect the fishing industry by raising considerably the tariffs
affecting its exports to the EU.  Such graduation needed to avoid serious disruption of the economy.
32. The representative of the European Union indicated that he was aware of the importance of
LDC graduation to the Maldives, and the possible impact on fish exports to the EU.  He would report
this matter to Brussels.
33. The representative of the Maldives stated that the current exchange rate system had worked
well, but was periodically reviewed.  Broadening the tax base to reduce reliance on tariffs was being
examined.  The Government was considering new taxes, such as on property rent.  Other taxes,
including a consumption tax, might be considered in the future.  Steps to reduce poverty included
decentralization programmes and relocation of population on larger islands to facilitate infrastructure
development.  The Maldives applied strict fish conservation measures, such as allowing only pole andline fishing and controlling exports of certain spec ies.  Port development to enable trans-shipment
activities had started, and comprehensive measures had been taken to facilitate trade, such as
computerization of customs and allowing private sector involvement in import clearances.  Tourism
was privately driven.WT/TPR/M/110
Page 11
VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON
34. This, the first Review of the Maldives, has enabled Members to obtain a much better
understanding of its trade regime.  The positive and constructive comments raised during this Review
by Members and the discussant together with the responses from the Maldivian delegation contributed
to what I feel has been a very successful collective consideration of the Maldives' trade policies andmeasures.
35. Members commended the Maldives for its impressive growth and success in improving
general living standards.  Inflation and unemploymen t are relatively low, and steady growth since
1980 has lifted the Maldives to a lower middle income country level with per capita income of over
US$2,000.  This has been achieved despite the economic and development challenges facing the
Maldives, a small island developing economy.  These include a narrow production base heavily
reliant on tourism and fishing, vulnerability to external developments, and a small and scattered
population over many islands.  Members supported the Maldives' ambitious plans for a more
diversified export-oriented economy and sought clarifications on the objective of becoming a
"regional free trade hub" by 2020.
36. Members were highly supportive of the Maldives' trade and economic policies, and efforts to
meet its WTO commitments.  They appreciated the heavy demands this placed on its stretchedadministrative capacities and encouraged the Maldives to continue with these efforts.  Members urged
the Maldives to pass legislation implementing WTO Agreements and revised trade and investment
rules.  Members felt that the macro-economy has been well managed, although recent fiscal pressures
need to be addressed.  The authorities are considering introducing an efficient direct tax system to
broaden the internal tax base and thereby reduce the heavy reliance on tariff revenue;  such a reform,by easing fiscal pressures, could also facilitate further tariff reductions.
37. Although Members felt that the Maldives' trade and investment regimes are relatively open,
transparency needs to be improved.  Tariffs are the main trade policy instrument.  Members urged the
Maldives to quickly rectify those cases where applied rates exceed bound levels, and to reduce the
significant gap between bound and applied duties.  Non-tariff barriers are few;  import licensing ismainly automatic and import quotas apply only to rice, flour, and sugar.
38. Efforts to privatize and restructure state-owned enterprises to improve efficiency and facilitate
greater private sector involvement were welcomed by Members.  They encouraged the deregulation of
key services, in particular, the intended abolition of the basic telecommunications monopoly in 2008,
to improve the economy's efficiency.
39. LDC graduation is a major challenge for the Maldives.  Members were sympathetic to the
possible implications this may have on its economic performance, especially by the loss of significantEU tariff preferences on fish exports.  Several Members agreed with the Maldives that the sudden
withdrawal of such preferential treatment upon gra duation could retard its development, and believed
that any such graduation needs to consider factors other than income levels, including some 40% of
the population still below the poverty line and vulnerability to external shocks.
40. On sectoral issues, Members noted recent efforts to end the export monopoly on tuna and
sought details on the policy challenges in the fisheries sector, including the current fish export
licensing scheme.  While lease periods for island resorts have been increased, the conditions attached
to the new 50-year lease are rather restrictive.
41. Members also sought clarification on several specific issues, including:
− tax reforms, including greater reliance on consumption taxes;WT/TPR/M/110
Page 12
− foreign investment requirements, including the proposed revised legislation, and investment
incentives;
− regional trade initiatives, including formation of SAFTA;
− benefits of unilateral preferential arrangements;
− introduction of WTO-consistent intellectual property legislation;
− sanitary and phytosanitary arrangements;
− government procurement;
− import licensing;
− customs valuation and use of minimum prices;
− plans to introduce legislation on contingency remedies;  and
− technical assistance requirements
42. Members expressed their appreciation of the oral and written responses provided by the
Maldivian delegation.  They look forward to receiving the written answers to outstanding questions.
43. This concludes our Review of the Maldives.  It has highlighted the commitment of the
Maldivian authorities to the WTO and their effort s to maintain a relatively open economy, despite
developmental challenges.  I would encourage the Maldives to continue these efforts, and to focus on
domestic policy reforms to address the supply-side constraints that limit the economy's diversification
and compound its vulnerability to external developmen ts.  I would also urge that Members play their
part by extending greater non-discriminatory market access to the Maldives and providing sufficientwell targeted technical assistance for it to full y integrate into the multilateral trading system.
__________