Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 2, 2001
Ministry prepares for WTO Doha meeting
By Rana Awwad
AMMAN — Jordan will not make new commitments concerning market access if the World Trade Organisation (WTO) imposes further obligations on its members, a senior government official said on Monday.“We have already committed ourselves to several customs reductions when we joined the WTO last year,” said Samer Tawil, Trade and Industry Ministry secretary general.
Upon ascension to the global body, customs have been gradually reduced. They currently stand at a ceiling of 30 per cent, and will be slashed to 25 per cent by 2005 and 20 per cent by 2010. Customs on some items were eliminated.
Speaking to a meeting grouping representatives of the public and private sectors to harmonise negotiation stands to be presented during the next WTO ministerial meeting, Tawil said that the Kingdom is for launching a new round of trade liberalisation.
However, he said that other countries should fulfil their commitments regarding market access in the event of initiating another round.
In the runup to the fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, slated for Nov. 9-13 debate continues to rage over whether it is time for another round of trade liberalisation negotiations.
Main topics on the conference's agenda include launching the “mandated negotiations” which include agriculture, trade in services, and intellectual property rights.
Other topics that are set to be discussed are trade and investment, trade and competition, electronic commerce, investment, competition, environment, and labour.
The ministry has asked participants to submit their views on these topics.
Tawil said that the Kingdom does not object to enhancing investment liberalisation provided that the right of developing countries to boost and encourage foreign investments is preserved.
The conference is the topmost decision-making body of the WTO. It has to meet at least every two years, bringing together all the countries and customs unions which are members of the organisation.
The conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the WTO agreements.