ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: Pakistan has shown its reservation over partial resumption of negotiations on some issues saying talks should be resumed across the board on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), it is learnt.
Pakistan's reaction came at a time, when some countries, including European Union (EU) has tabled a proposal to resume talks in certain undisputed areas of the Doha round to break the impasse in the multilateral trade negotiations.
According to the official statement submitted to the WTO General Council by Pakistan's Ambassador to WTO Dr Manzoor Ahmed, a copy of which was made available to this reporter, Islamabad has welcomed preservation of the progress already achieved as part of the Doha talks.
"We would not be able to support proposals on partial resumption of talks, which claim to promote development. If major economies are indeed keen on doing something for development, we would request them to unilaterally do what a majority of developing countries were asking them to do," Dr Manzoor informed the council.
This means that they could eliminate tariff peaks on items of export interest to developing countries, substantially reduce their agricultural trade distorting subsidies and provide predictability on rules such as anti-dumping.
"We would encourage the director general WTO to continue with his consultations and to make every effort for an early resumption of negotiations," the statement said.
In its response to the trade talks’ suspension, Pakistan has cautiously reacted saying the indefinite deferment of the Doha round negotiations would undermine the credibility of the multilateral trading system.
"We regret that we were so close and yet are not getting there. Unfortunately, certain members, who had taken the leadership role were not able to live up to the expectations," the statement added.
According to the statement, one obvious result, which was already becoming evident because of the prolongation of the Doha round negotiations, was further proliferation of the free trade agreements (FTAs) and regional trade agreements (RTAs) and more destabilisation and marginalisation of the less fortunate countries.
When contacted the FPCCI trade expert Mohammad Sulaiman told this reporter that in the industrial negotiations, Pakistan was looking forward to reduction in tariffs on textiles and agricultural products. Any resumption of talks, which did not include negotiations on farm and industrial sector, would not be of any substantial benefit to Pakistan economy.
"We are not happy with this situation and would like the talks to be resumed at an early stage. Partial resumption of talks will not address issues of our concern such as market access in agriculture and non-agriculture sector," he added.
