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developing countries from inflows of cotton from LDCs. Developed coun- through "plurilateral agreements' as
subsidized products. India continued try members, and developing coun- has been proposed during the Nairobi
to play a leading role in advancing try members declaring themselves in Ministerial Meeting, is a way to step
developing countries' interests, in- a position to do so, shall grant, to the out of multilateral commitments and
cluding those of Africa. extent provided for in their respective single undertakings. If we add to this
preferential trade arrangements in fa- trend the increasing number of re-
What does the text of the vour ofLDCs, as from 1 January 2016." gional trading agreements, a serious
Ministerial Declaration say? Reform of domestic cotton policies to doubt might be raised on the future
"We recognize that many Members reduce trade distorting subsidies were and the relevance of the World Trade
reaffirm that the DDA, and the Dec- acknowledged. Organization and of the Multilateral
larations and Decisions adopted at The language of the ministerial text is Trading System (NITS). In fact, the
the Doha and Ministerial Conferences vague. It leaves a large margin for not evolution of the Nairobi Conference
held since then, and reaffirm full com- taking any action in respect to duty- has opened the way to a new round
mitment to conclude the DDA on that free quota-free cotton market access. of negotiations. What that round will
basis. Other Members do not reaf- The SSM issue remains unsolved. result in remains to be seen.
firm the Doha mandates as they be- Trade and development subsidies
lieve new approaches are necessary to are to be reduced by 2020. Fourteen "I have a dream"
achieve meaningful outcomes in mul- years after the launching of the Doha Any trade or economic analyst who
tilateral negotiations. Members have Round the stalemate remains. Sys- has followed international relations,
different views on how to address the temic disagreement on major issues and trade negotiations in particular, is
negotiations. We acknowledge aware of challenges posed by a
the strong legal structure of the system based on a world where
Organization."4 "The increasing number economic wealth is shared
of regional trade unequally. Trade negotiations
Paragraph 34 of the Declara- mirror world economic imbal-
tion also states that: "while we agreements undermines ances. Unequal world power
concur that officials should pri- the relevance of the relations are embedded in the
oritize work where results have trade regime. Given the present
not yet been achieved, some World Trade Organization situation, the results can only
wish to identify and discuss and of the MTS." be scattered and chaotic. In
other issues for negotiation; fact, the reflection has now to
others do not. Any decision to be rather based on the follow-
launch negotiations multilater- ing question:
NITS = Multilateral Trading System
ally on such issues would need • Can economic and welfare is-
to be agreed by all Members." sues still be tackled in the mul-
between developing and developed tilateral system?
Progress on cotton market access re- countries not only persists, but has • Looking for market access and
mains limited. Duty-free and quota- widened. Beyond the official enthu- business opportunities in compliance
free market access "to the extent pro- siasm for the Declaration, in reality with national interests remain a key
vided for in their respective preferential when one looks at the text carefully, engine of trade negotiations. Can this
trade arrangements in favour of LDCs, in fact the DDA is not finalized and be reconciled with development?
as from 1 January 2016, duty-free and the Doha Round as launched in 2001 • If the pursuit of self-interests is the
quota-free market access for cotton is dead. only way, where is this trend going
produced and exported by LDCs. De- to take the world? To what extent can
veloping country members declaring The whole idea of the "single undertak- national interests be pursued on their
themselves not in a position to grant ing" has been jeopardized by the Nairo- own?
duty-free and quota-free market access bi Declaration. Industrialized countries • Does it mean that there is no more
for cotton produced and exported by have made it clear in the negotiations space for solidarity?
LDCs shall undertake, as from 1 Janu- that if the DDA must be still relevant,
ary 2016, to consider the possibilities that can only happen if new issues are Although rationally, these answers
for increased import opportunities for taken up in the negotiations. contain the replies in themselves, "I
have a dream" that at one point the
Including new issues on the agenda world relations could change to result
4 Paragraph 30 of the Draft Nai- means to change the mandate of the in a more peaceful world. At present,
robi Ministerial Declaration, WT/ DDA. Furthermore, advancement we are far from realizing my dream. •
MIN(1 5)/W/33/Rev.3.

24 DIVA - INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT