WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(98)/ST/49
18May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-2045)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Second Session
Geneva, 18-19 May1998
SAARC
Statement Circulated bytheCommerce Ministers
OntheeveoftheSecond Ministerial Conference oftheWTO, we,theMembers oftheSouth
Asian Association forRegional Cooperation,
Affirm ourcommitment tothemultilateral trading system which, byproviding arule-based
framework forinternational traderelations, hasaninvaluable roleinpromoting global economic growth;
Notethatthebenefitsofliberalizationhavebeendisappointinglyasymmetricalwithliberalization
proceeding atamuch slower paceinareas ofspecial interest todeveloping countries, increased trade
andinvestment bypassing themajority ofdeveloping countries, andincreasing income disparities among
andwithin countries;
Express concern attheprescription ofliberalization asapanacea foralleconomic problems,
thereby detracting attention fromtheurgent needtoresolve structural impediments todevelopment -
thecrippling debtburden ofthedeveloping countries, theneedforconcessional development finance
andrestrictions onthetransfer oftechnology;
Agree thattrade liberalization should beameans topromote theeconomic wellbeing and
prosperity ofallcountries;
Stress thatthemultilateral trading system must ensure mutual andbalanced benefits forall
WTO Members;
Agree thattheSecond WTO Ministerial Conference should clearly:
- reiterate theprimacy ofthemultilateral trading system, which includes aframework
forthedevelopment ofregional trade agreements which arecomplementary toitand
consistent withitsrules,
- reject thenewforces ofprotectionism thataredisguised asconcerns about the
environment, social conditions, labour standards, andallother forms ofnon-tariff
barriers,
- acceleratetheprocessofliberalizationinareasofspecialinteresttodevelopingcountries,
- encourage developed country Members maintaining quantitative restrictions ontextile
andclothing products tospeedily eliminate such restrictions inorder toprovide
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commercially meaningful market access fordeveloping country exports ofthese
products, andharmonization ofrules oforigin onanon-discriminatory basis,
- ensuretheeffectiveimplementationoftheprovisionsonspecialanddifferentialtreatment
fordeveloping countries,
- stresstheneedforspeedyandfullimplementationofthedecisionsandrecommendations
oftheWTO High Level Meeting onIntegrated Initiatives fortheTrade Development
oftheLDCs which includes greater market access fortheirproducts, capacity building
intheirtrade related activities andenhanced investment flows tothem.
AgreethatthemaintaskbeforetheWTOMinisterialConferenceistoinitiateaneffectiveprocess
toidentify theproblems encountered inthecourse oftheimplementation ofinherent intheUruguay
Round Agreements, andsuggest ways andmeans toredress these problems;
Concur thatthefuture activities oftheWTO mustfocus firstly, onsecuring afullandbalanced
implementation ofthealready concluded Agreements and,secondly, onfulfilling thedecisions taken
inregard tothenegotiations andfuture work provided forinthe"Built-in Agenda";
Urge thatalldecisions adopted attheMinisterial Conference must beachieved through a
transparent process, bebased onconsensus andaimatachieving overall balance ofinterests ofall
Members, especially developing country Members.
Signed bythefollowing countries:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
SriLanka
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