WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/GC/82 
27 October 2004 
 (04-4570) 
 Original:   English 
  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 
AS COORDINATOR FOR THE ACP GROUP GENEVA 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 21 October 2004 and addressed to the Chairman of the 
General Council, is being circulated at the requ est of the Delegation of Trinidad and Tobago. 
  
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 I am forwarding for your information the att ached statement which was prepared by the 
Trinidad and Tobago Delegation, as Coordinator for the ACP Group Geneva, for delivery on behalf of 
the ACP at the General Council Meeting of 20 October 2004.   The document encompasses the views of the Memb ers of the Group as they relate to the July 
Package and the post-July process.  There is some concern that the predetermined date for the Hong 
Kong, China Ministerial may influence the rate of progress of the negotiations;  however, the Group 
fully understands the need for the d ecision and would comply accordingly. 
  It would be appreciated if this statement can be circulated to all Members of the WTO as an 
official WTO document advising them of the AC P's position at the time of the General Council 
meeting on 20 October 2004.    
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STATEMENT BY THE DELEGATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 
ON BEHALF OF THE ACP GROUP 
 
1. Preamble 
1. In my capacity as Coordinator of the Geneva  ACP Group, I would like to take this 
opportunity to provide an overview of some of the issues which are central to  the Group, within the 
context of the current technical pre-modalities,  and the subsequent modalities phases of the 
negotiations.   
2. Having successfully secured the General Council decision of August 1
st 2004, commonly 
referred to as the July Package, it is now impera tive that we build on the platform provided by the 
Frameworks contained therein.  This however, mu st be undertaken in a pragmatic and inclusive 
manner, to ensure that the negotiating process rath er than economic leverage dictates the eventual 
outcome.  WT/GC/82 
Page 2  
 
 3. Although the Modalities Framework has provided a dditional impetus to the negotiations, to 
some extent it has also deferred consideration and agreement on several salient issues  These include, 
but are not limited to, the resolution of the Ag reement-specific proposals on S&D; the Outstanding 
Implementation Issues and the development dimensions  of the Doha Work Programme, particularly in 
the areas of Agriculture, Non-Agricultura l Market Access and Services.     
4. It is also essential that the approach adopted in the negotiating process, the technical work 
conducted, as well as the substantive discussions in  which we engage, should be set against the 
background of the development aspects of the of the Doha Round, as enshrined in the Doha 
Ministerial Declaration.  
5. As we look towards the 6
th Ministerial Conference scheduled for December 2005 in Hong 
Kong, our efforts should be guided by the commitme nt to fulfil the development dimension of the 
Doha Development Agenda articulated in the July Package.  
6. In the same vein, the architecture of the post- July Framework process should seek to generate 
targeted, operational policy instruments geared to facilitating and strengthening trade competitiveness 
and fostering the sustainable development of ACP Member States. 
2. Trade Facilitation 
7. In respect of Trade Facilitation, the Group welcomes the establishment of the Negotiating 
Group on Trade Facilitation and the appointment of Ambassador Noor as its Chairman.  The ACP 
looks forward to working harmoniously with the Ch airman as we confront the task of establishing a 
multilateral rules-based regime which would facilitate the expeditious movement, release and clearance of goods, including those in transit.  Ho wever, the ACP expects that in pursuit of this 
objective, the negotiations in this area would remain  true to the overarching principle of seeking to 
clarify and improve the relevant aspects of  Articles V, VIII and X of GATT 1994.  
8. While embracing the agreed modalities containe d in Annex D, and appreciating the efforts 
made to take into account the interests highlight ed by the ACP, we do hope that the negotiating 
dialogue would seek to address our lingering concerns.  It is also important that the Trade Facilitation 
negotiations do not overshadow other critical areas,  where intuitively negotiating and technical capital 
would be better spent if we are to succeed in delivering the gains on whic h the Doha Development 
Round was premised to developing countries.  
3. Agriculture 
9. The importance which ACP Member States attach to the negotiations on Agriculture is well 
documented.  In ACP States agriculture is fundame ntal to the achievement of national development 
and trade policy objectives, particularly saf eguarding its food and livelihood security; rural 
employment and development; and poverty alle viation.  In this regard, the issues of: 
- Special Products (SPs); 
- the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) to provide meaningful protection to 
our domestic markets from import surges and fluctuating international prices; 
- Special and Differential Treatment (S&D), particularly in respect of tariff 
reduction; 
- exemption from ‘ de minimis ’ reductions;  WT/GC/82 
 Page 3 
 
 
 - the treatment of NFIDCs; and 
- long-standing preferences and the issue of preference erosion; 
are a few of the essential elements  of the flexibility and policy sp ace needed to safeguard these 
objectives and ensure that our developm ent concerns are taken into account.  
 
10. The Group also supports the approach adopted by  the Chairman of the Special Session of the 
Committee on Agriculture in aiming to engage, in para llel, on the technical work on the three pillars.  
However, it is essential that incorporation of S& D and addressing development concerns traverse the 
work in each of these pillars. 
4. Cotton 
11. With regard to the issue of Cotton, the Framework Agreement has recognised the importance 
of the development aspects of the Cotton Initiative,  as well as the complementarity between the trade 
and development dimensions.  The approach outlined , gives the issue the urge nt, targeted attention 
that it deserves and has the essential elements needed  for an expedient resolution of this issue during 
the current phase of the negotiations. 
12. To this end, the Cotton Sub-Committee should be established as soon as possible and equal 
weight be placed on the trade and development aspects of its work.  It is equally important that there 
be coherence between the Committee and the negotia tions undertaken in the Special Session of the 
Committee on Agriculture (CoA).  Furthermore, the technical work undertaken in each of the pillars 
should seek to yield solutions to the Cotton Issue.  Moreover, the ACP supports that Cotton be placed 
on the agenda of the Special Session of the CoA, where progress in the work  of the Committee, as 
well as in the negotiations, can be reviewed and assessed. 
5. NAMA 
13. The negotiations on Non-Agricultural Market Ac cess (NAMA) have the potential to deliver 
tangible gains to economies of ACP Me mber States.  In this regard, it is imperative that ACP States 
be provided with adequate flexibility to safegua rd their domestic industrialisation and upgrading 
initiatives.  The ACP Group acknowledges the broad agre ement that the current and future technical 
work of the NAMA Negotiating Group should focus on a tripod of elements, namely the formula, sectorals and flexibilities.  
14. This notwithstanding, given that the issue of  preferences was identified in paragraph 1 of 
Annex B of the July Package as one of the elemen ts where additional work is required to reach 
agreement, consideration should be  given to its inclusion among the focal elements.  The discussions 
undertaken at the November and December mee tings of the NAMA negotiating Group should also 
seek to elicit a common understanding on meaning, implications and intent of paragraph 1 of 
Annex B. 
15. It is also important for the NAMA negotiations  to address NTBs, which effectively constrain 
market access for exports of ACP States.  In th is regard, the Group would like to reiterate the 
commitment of its Member States to contribute to the process by submitting their notifications on 
NTBs.  
6. S&D and Implementation Issues 
16. It is essential that we grasp the opportunity, presented by the Doha Round, to reform the 
multilateral trading system to make it more amen able to developing the weak and vulnerable WT/GC/82 
Page 4  
 
 economies within our Membership.  In order to do so, we must resolve the Agreement-specific 
Special and Differential Treatment proposals in the timeframe outlined in the July Package and within 
the parameters of the Doha Ministerial Mandate.  Similarly, a clear, precise road-map, as it were, should be developed in respect of finding appropriate solutions to the outstanding Implementation-
related issues and concerns no later than July 2005.  
7. Issues of Process 
17. As we seek to transform the principles and con cepts in the Frameworks into full modalities, it 
is imperative that in structuring our work the prin ciples of transparency and inclusion continue to 
prevail.  Further, although the negotiations continue to  be fluid, it may be necessary to construct a 
provisional schedule of meetings.  This would a llow sufficient lead-time for planning, conduct of 
internal technical analysis and partic ipation of experts from capital.    
18. It also the view of the ACP Group that the s ubstantive progress achieved in the negotiations 
should ultimately dictate what would be feasible at the proposed 6
th Ministerial Conference in Hong 
Kong.  Accordingly, the conduct of an ‘ audit of progress’  may indeed be necessary during the spring 
of 2005.  This notwithstanding, the Group does have  some measure of concern with regard to the 
possibility of the negotiations becoming overly protr acted, given the urgent need for the re-balancing 
of the global trade rules.  
19. As such, in order to ensure incremental moveme nt in respect of modalities, the possibility of 
soliciting political guidance and impetus in Geneva, prio r to the Ministerial, using a format similar to 
that employed during the July process, should be considered. 
8. Conclusion 
20. Finally, the ACP underscores the fact that the July Package secured by the General Council, 
has brought us much closer to reshaping the multil ateral trade rules.  The Group would also like to 
reiterate its commitment to engaging actively and constructively with Members in an attempt to 
plough through the plethora of technical, politically sensitive and systemic issues that are still to be 
resolved.  
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