WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/MA/W/30
25 March 2003
(03-1704)
Negotiating Group on Market Access Original: English
MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Communication from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago
The following communication, dated 18 March 2003, has been received from Barbados,
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
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Product Coverage
1. Our understanding of Paragraph 16 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration is that the phrase
"without a priori exclusion " provides a built-in flexibility to exclude some products arising from the
special needs and interests of developing and Least Developed country participants.  It is our viewthat such special needs and interests are determined by the economic, fiscal, strategic and other
developmental objectives of these countries.
Elimination of Tariffs
2. While we remain committed to the process of liberalisation, it is the view of the co-sponsors
that the economic realities and levels of development of each member must dictate the pace at which
tariff reduction takes place. For certain small developing economies, tariffs are a primary means of
maintaining revenues, and ensuring the viability of vulnerable domestic industries and sustainable
levels of development.
Core Modalities
3. The core modalities to be adopted must accommodate the differences which exist amongst
Members and be suited to their varied levels of economic development and ability to offer
concessions.
4. Furthermore, the modalities must not require unreasonable tariff reductions which result in
serious economic and social dislocations in small domestic markets. For the co-sponsors, important
variables for consideration in the formulation of the modalities will be, inter alia , the percentage rates
for tariff reductions, special and differential treatment for sensitive products and sectors, relevant time
periods for implementation in terms of the overall negotiations, and an approach which is simple,transparent and user-friendly.
5. "Less than full reciprocity" must be a key principle in the formulation of the modalities for
tariff reduction and must be given a generous interpretation consistent with paragraph 8 of
Article XXXVI of GATT 1994.
6. The core modalities should also include a periodic assessment of the impact of tariff
reductions on the economies of developing countries. The outcome of these assessments shall form
the basis of a review of commitments undertaken by  developing countries with the view to making
appropriate adjustments. This would be a positive effort to ensure that developing countries secure ashare in the growth of intern ational trade commensurate with the needs of their economic
development.TN/MA/W/30
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Supplementary approaches
7. Supplementary approaches such as sectoral (`zero-for-zero') initiatives may be used on a
voluntary basis between interested trading partners. However, the use of supplementary approaches
should nevertheless be kept to a minimum and the process of negotiations conducted in a mannerwhich is transparent to all WTO Members.
Elimination of low/nuisance tariffs
8. We do not consider low tariffs to be nuisance tariffs. Elimination of low tariffs should not be
required under the modalities, but may be undertak en on a voluntary basis should any Member so
decide. However, action by developed countries to eliminate their low tariffs should not be construedas a concession.
Tariff peaks, tariff escalation and high tariffs
9. We support calls for the reduction and elimination by developed countries of tariff peaks,
tariff escalation and high tariffs on products of export interest to developing countries.
Bindings/Binding coverage
10. The modalities should provide flexibility to leave unbound those tariff lines which are
particularly sensitive to individual developing countries.
Base rates
11. We believe that the starting point for these negotiations should be the bound rates, as these
represent the legal commitments of members at the end of the last round of multilateral negotiations.
Base Year
12. The base year should be the year of completion of the Uruguay Round.Nomenclature
14. The HS96 should be the basis for these negotiations.Implementation and staging
15. Developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable among them, will require an
appropriate timeframe for the implementation of agreed tariff reductions. Such implementation
periods are to be commensurate with their levels of development, size of economy, fiscal and other
strategic development needs. A five-year period w ould therefore not be sufficient. In addition, for
developing countries, the staging of the tariff reductions must be based on the principle of `less thanfull reciprocity' regardless of the modalities to be agreed upon.
Credit for autonomous liberalisation
16. Credit should be given for autonomous liberalisation measures undertaken by developing
countries since the end of the Uruguay Round. The modalities for granting credit should be developed
as a matter of urgency.TN/MA/W/30
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Initial Negotiating Rights (INRs)
17. Any discussion on INRs should take into account the interests and needs of suppliers from
smaller sized economies with traditional/historical access.
Erosion of Preferential Margins
18. Preferential trading arrangements remain of critical importance for the economic development
of certain developing countries. The continued eros ion of preferential market access will hinder the
integration of these countries into the multilateral trading system. Therefore, positive measures must
be found to mitigate against the negative impact of the loss of preferential market access.
Newly Acceded Members
19. We support these Members' calls for flexibilit y in undertaking further commitments in this
round of multilateral negotiations.
LDCs
20. We support these Members' calls for special treatment in the negotiations.
Technical Assistance
21. We note that the mandate specifies the provision of capacity building measures, including
appropriate studies to assist LDCs to effectively participate in the negotiations. Other developing
countries, such as small vulnerable economies would also benefit from similar assistance. In order to
ensure the effective participation of  small vulnerable economies in the negotiations, it would benecessary to conduct  studies on the impact of further liberalisation on their economies and provide
trade-related technical assistance to;
(a) enhance competitiveness of their private sectors and
(b) modernize the operation of their statistical institutions and strengthen data collection
and analysis systems.
22. The countries presenting this proposal reserve their right to amend or supplement their
positions as the negotiations proceed.
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