ISLAMABAD, Sept 27: The inclusion of more areas for negotiations under the fold of the World Trade Organization (WTO) would result in creating problems for the developing countries which are short of technical expertise to cope with the problems emerging from these agreements.

Speakers at a two-day workshop on ‘post Cancun agenda’ organized by the commerce ministry on Saturday were of the opinion that the developed countries should not opt for an ambitious agenda under the WTO as this would further hamper the trades of developing countries.

Former director of GATT/WTO Mohammad Saleem suggested that the member countries should wait until the current round of negotiations were completed.

He said there was no need for opening new areas like Singapore issues for negotiations. He said there was no need for any further ministerial meeting in this regard.

Director Trade and Development Work Programme, South Centre, Geneva, Rashid S. Kaukab, said the developing countries were already overloaded with the heavy agenda. He said the poor developing countries were not at a good position to further negotiate on new areas under the WTO.

He said the failure at Cancun was not the end of multilateral trading system. He said it was a continuous process and would be completed in Geneva by representatives of the member countries.

He said the positive outcome of the Cancun ministerial conference was that the developing countries would be more prepared and engaged in negotiations, particularly in the agriculture sector.

Mr Kaukab suggested that Pakistan should support the G-22 countries, particularly on agriculture negotiations.

The expert further suggested that Pakistan should also carry out extensive research for making liberalization in the services sectors to get maximum benefits out of it.

WTO counsellor, development division, S.I.M Nayyar said the developing countries could seek special and differential treatment (S&DT) according to their own need and interests. However, he said it was a tough area where member countries were yet to develop a consensus on modalities.

He said at Cancun the developing countries were asking that unless they would get something in the S&DT and implementation issues, they would not go forward for further negotiation in the areas.

He suggested that better integration of the developing countries into the multilateral trading system would benefit them in comparison to that of any bilateral or regional arrangement. Doha development agenda bring development to the core of the WTO work, he added.