WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/MA/W/37
20 May 2003
(03-2711)
Negotiating Group on Market Access Original:  English
MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Communication from the United Arab Emirates
The following communication, dated 19 May 2003, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of the United Arab Emirates.
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Introduction
1. On the basis of the documents presented and the positions expressed in this Negotiating
Group by various members, the present communication is intended to set out UAE’s position in this
process.
2. The first point to be noted is that UAE atta ches a great importance to these negotiations. We
strongly wish that their outcome will allow the strengthening of our national policy of
industrialization and diversifying our exports and the targeted markets.
3. It is necessary to remind that these negotiations are taking place within the setting of the Doha
Development Agenda (DDA). We view that it shall  be conducted in accordance with the mandate
embodied in paragraph 16 of the Doha Ministerial declaration with a view to achieving a substantial
and balanced outcome. It shall safeguard the benefits of developing countries through implementing
the principle of “less than full reciprocity”, so as to ensure the active participation of all the members
in the Multilateral Trading System.
4. UAE fully supports the mandate provided by the Ministers at Doha and is committed to
engaging constructively in these negotiations.  To this end, we would like to present our position on
certain key elements as follows.
Modalities of Tariff Reduction
5. Discussions in the Negotiating Group have show n that a formula approach is the preferred
one to facilitate the negotiations and meet the requirement of eliminating high tariffs, tariff peaks and
tariff escalation. As such, UAE suggests adopting a formula approach for tariff reduction.
6. However, taking into consideration of the imbalance among the development levels of all
members, it is proposed that such an approach shall be built on the concept of less than full reciprocity
in reduction commitments as far as developing countries are concerned. In this context, UAE supports
the adoption of differentiated coefficients for developing and developed country participants.
7. The formula approach could be complemented with supplementary approaches. However, the
members shall be free to decide their participation in light of their own needs.TN/MA/W/37
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Base Rates and Nomenclature
8. As far as schedules of concessions of each Member are an integral part of the WTO legal
instruments, UAE considers that the bound tariffs committed in the Uruguay Round must be the only
basis for the negotiations.
9. In addition, tariff reduction could be made on the basis of HS 96 and the final results could be
scheduled in HS 2002.
High Tariffs, Tariff Peaks and Tariff Escalation
10. UAE esteems that the inclusion of high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff escalation in the mandate
responds concretely to the development dimension of the multilateral trade negotiations launched at
the IV Ministerial Conference, as these are distortions that affect in particular the products of export
interest to developing countries.
11. Nevertheless, these terms have not been formally defined. Therefore, it became important to
clarify these concepts, for the sake of enhancing mutual and better understanding among members and
agreeing of modalities to reduce or eliminate these tariffs.
12. For that purpose, UAE would like to underline that it is about relative concepts. So, when
defining high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff escalation, we must consider the discrepancies in thecurrent tariff levels of all members
Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs)
13. As a result of the previous rounds of multilateral trade negotiations, the market access for
non-agricultural products has been improved substantially. However, it deserves our attention that the
existence of Non-Tariff Barriers still affects the effective and balanced development of international
trade.
14. Indeed, NTBs remain a significant issue which is difficult to identify and remedy. However, it
is an essential integral part of the mandate. UAE follows with great interest the works of the
Negotiating Group on Market Access as it is the most appropriate body to discuss and treat NTBsproblems.
15. UAE considers that the notification of NTBs by certain members of the WTO is a first
important stage in the fulfillment of the mandate of Doha but it must be completed by a thorough
work which should result in adoption of multilateral modalities to abolish these obstacles.
16. As is clear in the document (TN/MA/W/25), there are several NTBs which are covered by the
various WTO arguments. In this case, it seems more reasonable and useful to leave the corresponding
committee dealing with these barriers. Even so, UAE believes that the Negotiating Group shall
explore additional horizontal mechanisms in order to reduce or eliminate unnecessary barriersaffecting market access. It is evident that a good coordination between these two processes is the sine
qua none  condition to contain the variety and diversity of NTBs and treat them in an effective
manner.
Special & Differential Treatment / “Less Than Full Reciprocity”
17. On the topic of Special and Differential Tr eatment, UAE would lik e to underline two main
concepts as follows:TN/MA/W/37
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(a) Less than Full Reciprocity
The concept of “less than full reciprocity” is unequivocal. The Doha Mandate, contained in
paragraph 16 of the Ministerial Declaration, is very clear in establishing that “the negotiations
shall take fully into account the special needs and interests of developing and least-developedcountry participants, including through less than full reciprocity in reduction commitments”.
In fact, it needs to be recognized that all the members, in particular, the developing countries
have problems or sensitivities in specific sector. In trade negotiations, it is very normal to
introduce some tariff reductions gradually so as to soften their impact on the more sensitive
sectors. Furthermore, it is legitimate that the developing countries can protect, reasonably and
in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO agreements – in particular theArticle XXVIII bis of GATT 1994-, their emerging industries which have a potential for
growth.
In view of the above-mentioned factors, UAE considers that the concept in question requires
deeper reduction commitments from developed partners than those undertaken by developingcountries as well as other modalities which include, inter alia , differentiated time frames for
implementation and differentiated rates of reduction.
(b) Products of Substantial Export Interest to Developing Countries
To reach an overall balance in the outcome of the market access negotiations and ensure that
developing countries secure a share in benefits of trade liberalization, the sectors and products
of particular export interest to these countries shall be treated as priorities in the negotiations.
On this basis, UAE proposes the elimination of  tariffs and non-tariff barriers for all raw
materials and primary products. There is no doubt that this liberalization will be profitable to
both developed and developing countries. Duty -free raw materials and primary products are
essential for the competitiveness of developed countries manufacturing and semi-
manufacturing businesses; while the same products constitute generally strategic exports and
emerging industries in developing countries.
It is of strategic importance for UAE that a consensus can be attainted for the complete
elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on Primary Aluminum and other products of
substantial export interest to its economy. In this context, UAE would like to reserve the right
to submit a specific proposal during the next stage of negotiations.
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