. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/NG/W/125
19 February 2001
(01-0821)
Committee on Agriculture
Special SessionOriginal:  English
FIFTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
5-7 FEBRUARY 2001
Statements by Swaziland
G/AG/NG/W/90 (Proposal by the EC)1. The Swaziland delegation would like to declare its support for the EC comprehensive
negotiating proposals in as far as they deal with the continuation of the reform process enshrined in
Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).  Of particular interest to us are the elementstouching on market access because we believe that human development depends crucially on an
equitable integration of developing countries (DCs) into the global economy.
2. There are four proposals in the EC paper we would like to comment upon at this stage.  The
first is the proposal that in addition to multilateral liberalization, significant trade preferences should
be provided to the DCs, especially the least de veloped countries.  We would, however, add a rider in
this connection.  The net result must be a win-wi n situation for DCs as a whole. No DC should be
made worse off in the process of trying to improve the welfare of other DCs.
3. The second EC proposal is to ensure that trade preferences continue to render stable and
predictable resource flows which are necessary for increased investment.  We regard this as an
important aspect of special and differential treatment of DCs.  Accordingly we support this because it
accommodates the fragile economies of those developing countries who are heavily dependent on one
or two agricultural exports.
4. The third proposal of particular interest to us as a DC is that poverty alleviation measures be
exempted from any reduction commitments.  Going along with this, is the proposal that other ways be
found to provide the necessary flexibility for DCs to address the issue of poverty, notably through a
revision of the " de minimis " clause for DCs.
5. Finally, the EC proposes, in the context of  non-trade concerns (NTCs), that measures
intended to promote sustainable vitality of rural areas should be provided for in the AoA.  From our
perspective as a DC, spin-offs from agricultural production have been considerable.  Accordingly, we
would support measures to address NTCs in a targeted, transparent and minimally trade-distorting
manner.
G/AG/NG/W/96  (Proposal by Mauritius)
1. The Swaziland delegation would like to declare its total support for the proposal tabled by
Mauritius.  The paper helps put into sharp focus issues of concern to small island developing states
(SIDS).  Most of these issues are also of concern to small developing countries (DCs) like Swaziland.
Hence our total support.G/AG/NG/W/125
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2. Without detracting from the other good points mentioned in the paper by Mauritius, we would
like to highlight just a few.
3. The first point relates to non-trade concerns (NTCs).  These are also of relevance to other
small DCs.  We concur with the view that the instruments to address NTCs will differ from one set ofcountries to another because of different conditions and circumstances.  This is why as small DCs we
request flexibility in the accommodation of NTCs.
4. The second point relates to special and differential treatment (SDT).  We support the
Mauritian suggestion that effective instruments be found to address the structural difficulties faced by
DCs to achieve higher levels of competitiveness.  Of particular note in this connection is the desire by
DCs to become active market participants in the global economy.  Technical assistance to addresssupply side constraints can go a long way towards assisting DCs get integrated into the global
economy.
5. The third point relates to market access.  We concur fully with the Mauritian view that
guaranteed market access is important for overall development.  We would only add guaranteed pricesfor sensitive products as also crucial.  We support very strongly the suggestion that sensitive products
be excluded from the ambit of commitments in resp ect of market access.  This is crucial for the
development of small DCs who are heavily dependent on one or a few agricultural exports.
6. Finally, the Swaziland delegation concurs with the view that certain sensitive products should
be excluded from the reduction commitments under domestic support.  Alternatively, mechanisms
should be found to prevent small developing economies getting dislocated in the wake of a reduction
in commitments.
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