. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/32 
18 December 2005 
 (05-6192) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session 
Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:  English 
 
  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE INFORMAL GROUP OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 16 December 2005, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Paraguay on behalf of th e Informal Group of Developing Countries. 
 
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1. We, the Members of the Informal Group of Developing Countries, met for the first time at 
Ministerial level on the occasion of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, China, on 
16 December 2005. 
1a. We reaffirm our trust in mu ltilateralism versus unilateralism in  the conduct of trade relations 
and, in this sense, believe that the multilateral tr ading system should be strengthened to take into 
account the need for non-discrimination and the interests of developing countries.  
2.  We recall paragraph 2 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration which states: "We seek to place 
[developing countries'] needs and interests at the heart of the Work Programme adopted in this 
Declaration".  We noted  that while there are many different inte rests and positions to be found within 
the Informal Group of Developing Countries, there ar e also many shared concerns.  For example, we 
share a sense of frustration over the lack of pr ogress in key areas for developing countries in the 
current Doha Round of negotiations and we agree th at discussion on developmental issues within the 
Doha Development Agenda (DDA) has been insuffici ent.  We, therefore, urge all Members of the 
WTO to put development back at the centre of the discussions in all areas of the negotiations. 
3. The development dimension of the DDA w as to be reflected in the work and the 
achievements of each of the negotiating groups.  However, we do not see how the work conducted so 
far in the negotiating groups can lead to concrete and tangible results on developmental issues.  What 
we see from the proposals put forward to date by  developed countries are merely requests for the 
exchange of market access concessi ons with little regard for some of  the basic principles of these 
negotiations.  We recall that these principles have  been recognized in paragraph 50 of the Doha 
Ministerial Declaration and include the principle of  special and differential treatment for developing 
countries and less than full reciprocity in the undertaking of commitments.   
4.  As concerns the negotiations on agriculture,  the most important area of the negotiations for 
many developing countries, we believe that Agricultu re is, and must remain, at the core of the Doha 
Round.  Despite its importance, it is regrettable that negotiations in this area remain at a stand-still due 
to the unwillingness by some developed country Me mbers to put in place agricultural reforms that 
would significantly improve the conditions of access to their markets by products from the majority of 
developing countries.  This lack of progress and the lack of meaningful proposals that would improve 
the conditions for access to the markets of developed countries shows a lack of will in complying with 
the development objectives as stated in the Doha Mini sterial Declaration.  We note with great concern 
that there appears to be inadequate ambition in the negotiations as the focus of those who distort WT/MIN(05)/32 
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world agriculture trade through subsidies and protect  their markets with high tariffs is getting even 
more access to developing countries' markets. This, is  to say the least, a grossly unbalanced approach. 
5.  We also want to remind Members that speci al and differential treatment in agriculture is 
extremely important in the area of agriculture and that an ambitious , expeditious and specific response 
is achieved in the Sectoral Initiative on Cotton.  Theref ore, we expect this issu e to be addressed on an 
"early harvest" basis.   
6.  In the area of non-agricultural market ac cess (NAMA) it is undeniable that developed 
countries benefit from a number of competitive and co mparative advantages in their exports.  Even 
with their more advantageous positions, deve loped countries demand more market opening from 
developing countries than what they are willing to  offer to remedy some of the practices which 
negatively impact exports of deve loping countries.  We have seen only limited progress on the part of 
the developed countries in eliminating the use of tariff peaks and tariff escal ation.  These practices 
hinder our ability to diversify our production from  primary goods and commodities and to export 
goods of a higher added value.  
7.  The liberalization of the movement of natu ral persons or mode 4 in the area of services 
(GATS) is also a high priority for developing coun tries.  Discussions on this subject have been 
constantly avoided and delayed by the developed countries.  No progress has been made.  We find this 
regrettable given the potential for mode 4 liberalization to directly contribute in increasing the welfare of our people, while at the same time foster ing economic growth in developed countries. 
8.  We believe that in all areas the fundamental  principle of special and differential treatment 
needs to be part and parcel of the negotiations.  The primary intent of special and differential 
treatment is to establish equity and fair competiti on where structural conditions are different across 
countries.  In this light, we cannot address market  access without the corresponding attention given to 
providing adequate special and differential treatment  for developing countries in agriculture and other 
areas.  These flexibilities include new categories for special products and special safeguard 
Mechanisms in agriculture. 
9.  We are encouraged by the "Aid for Trad e" initiative.  A high level of ambition in the 
inception of this programme will be an importa nt element that will not only facilitate the 
implementation of obligations resulting from the R ound, but will also help developing countries to 
reap the maximum rewards from the concessions obtained in the negotiations.  Nevertheless, we want to make it clear that the "Aid for Trade" pr ogramme cannot in any way replace the necessary 
commitments that must be made by  the developed countries to open up their markets in an undistorted 
manner to the products of developing countries.  Fu rthermore the "Aid for Trade" programme  should 
be implemented without conditionalities.  
10. It is important to have a clear view of th e state of play of the all issues relating to 
development in the Round.  In this regard we woul d like to express our appreciation to the Chairman 
of the Committee on Trade and Development and the WTO Secretariat for preparing document 
WT/COMTD/W/143/Rev.1 entitled "Developmental Asp ects of the Doha Round of Negotiations".   
This document has been a step in the right direction. 
11.  Lastly, we believe that the Informal Group of Developing Countries presents an ideal 
framework for dialogue and frank exchange of views,  which can later be translated into concrete 
proposals to be presented before the relevant negotia ting bodies.  This is why we intend to raise its 
profile and increase the participati on of developing country delegations in order for the Group to fulfil 
the role and objectives for which it was created.   
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