KARACHI, July 30: Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan has sought the support of the EU’s Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy for removal of anti-dumping enquiries presently under way against import of bedlinen from Pakistan.
The minister who met the EU’s Trade commissioner on the sidelines of Montreal mini-ministerial meeting on Wednesday also sought his support for allowing carryover of unused quota for the year 2003 to 2004.
Commerce ministers from 26 countries are currently meeting in Montreal to discuss the present deadlock on various WTO issues. The main focus of discussion was further liberalization of agriculture and non-agriculture goods.
According to a report reaching here from Montreal, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar while welcoming the recent EU’s reforms on common agriculture policy pointed out that if certain developed countries continue to levy high tariffs and block market access for products of developing countries, there would be no reform.
He also raised the issue of subsidies on agriculture produce being given by rich countries and said such domestic support were adversely affecting the poor farmers of the third world countries.
The minister stressed upon the need of striking a balance in overall negotiations if the outcome from the forthcoming Cancun (Mexico) ministerial conference has to be seen positive.
“If developed countries want developing countries to lower their tariff levels on industrial goods, they should also open up their markets for agriculture goods,” Humayun Akhtar stressed.
The minister said that Doha Development Round, can only be called a “Development Round” if it could increase trade opportunities for developing countries.
In the meeting new initiatives for liberalization and tariff reductions were proposed by some delegates including Mr Robert Zoelick, USTR and Trade Commissioner Mr Pascal Lamy.
These proposals will be further deliberated in Geneva so that the ministers can agree on modalities for tariff reductions and removal of export subsidies when they meet in mid September 2003, for the 5th Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Mexico.
APP adds: The EU Trade Commissioner assured Humayun Akhtar of his full support in resolving of issues faced by Pakistan’s business community and farmers in export of their agricultural and industrial products in world market.
He also assured for consideration of Pakistan’s proposal for allowing carryover unused 2003 quota in 2004.
Latafat Ali Siddiqui adds from Montreal: Like many other delegates to the ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) here, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar has called for promoting multilateral trading system to help boost exports of developing countries across the world.
Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, Humayun said his country is a great supporter of multilateral trading. “That’s the only way that we can increase our trade.”
Replying to a question, the minister said free trade was a worldwide phenomenon, and, in this connection, he gave the example of the US, Canada and Mexico that had already forged such an agreement to enhance their trade.
In the absence of free trade agreements, Pakistan and many other developing countries were facing trade barriers. Explaining, he said suppose Pakistan and Mexico send their goods to America, Mexican products would be free of tariffs while Pakistani exporters would have to pay duties.
Meanwhile, the WTO Director-general Supachai Panitchpakdi said the world needs a broad, inclusive multilateral trading system — instead of just individual one-on-one deals between countries — to “encourage an expansion in the level of trade volume.”
He said talks to salvage the so-called Doha round of trade liberalization, the first new round in 15 years, started yesterday amid acrimony and finger-pointing as countries wait for the two largest players — the European Union and the United States — to show leadership by making concessions.
Canadian Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew, who is hosting the Montreal meeting, called on Washington to match Brussels’ efforts last month to reform EU farm support programmes.
“I hope the Americans will be able to live up to the challenge that the Europeans are putting to them and agree to reduce substantially their own production subsidies,” Pettigrew was quoted as saying by the Globe and Mail newspaper.
EU Agriculture commissioner Franz Fischler said his bloc has already done its part, and it’s time for other countries to step up to the plate. He did not name the United States, but last week EU commission officials said “the ball is in the Americans’ court now” when it comes to further farm support cuts.