ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: Pakistan is weighing options to mark its protest at a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting next week. It might decide not to send a high-level delegation to the 9th WTO ministerial meeting to express its resentment over a possible deal that would allow subsidy on exports of agriculture products.
“As of today, I am not going to attend the Bali ministerial conference scheduled for December 3-6 in Indonesia,” State Minister for Commerce Eng Khurram Dastgir Khan told Dawn on Saturday, sending a clear message of Islamabad’s displeasure over the development.
He, however, said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who also holds the portfolio of commerce ministry, will decide the issue on Monday if Islamabad wants to send a delegation to participate in the ministerial or let its Geneva-based mission to represent Pakistan.
For many trade experts the government’s proposed move came as a surprise. They believed it would be better if Pakistan participates and resists the deal in the forum.
“To remain absent from the ministerial will only provide an opportunity to opponents to cast Pakistan in negative light,” an expert said.
Trade ministers of 159 member states will meet in Bali on Monday to revive the stalled negotiations on Doha Development Agenda.
To officially lodge protest, the minister said Pakistan has already sent a letter to the WTO Director General 10 days ago to protest the G-33 proposal.
“We have conveyed our stance to the WTO that Islamabad will not be a part of any deal which provides subsidy on agriculture produce, especially rice,” the minister reiterated.
India is the leading supporter of this proposal. But Pakistan believes that it would hurt its rice exports. Vietnam and Thailand also support Pakistan’s position on the proposal.
Pakistan is part of the G-20 and Cairns Groups, which are seeking elimination of subsidies on agriculture produce. At the same time, Pakistan is also a member of the G-33 group, mainly supporting defensive mechanism on agriculture products, especially subsidies.
