WTO Public Symposium: Session 19- Business Perspective on the Doha Round
Organized by UNICE
Panelists and Viewpoints
Bios of Participants
Ralph Kamphoner,
Eurocommerce
Eurocommerce represents 4.7 million companies. Mr.
Kamphoner's responsibilities within this organization include trade policy, in
particular within the framework of the WTO. He explained that his
organization's trade policy priorities are to both create stricter rules for trade in
goods and also to promote trade in services. They feel that liberalization of
trade in services, both in the EU and worldwide, is a basic condition for global
economic development. He supports the EU's proactive approach to the Doha
Development Agenda.
Position Paper
Anja Lorcher/Jan Eggert, FTA,
Foreign Trade Association
During his presentation Mr. Eggert argued persuasively for an investment agreement
through the WTO. First, he explained that investment is the driving
force of the world economy and an integral part of globalization. Because
of this, a framework of rules are needed. There exist more than 2000
bilateral investment agreements, not to mention many regional agreement, and
there exists a severe lack of transparency. In conclusion, Mr. Eggert
suggested that since trade and investment are linked to each other their
governing rules should be coherent.
Position Paper
The presention in PDF format
See GTN Page on investment issues
Adrian van den Hoven,
UNICE
Mr. Van den Hoven made sure to emphasize that UNICE,
representing 16 million companies, fully supports the Doha Development Agenda.
They try to incorporate development concerns in all papers, partly since they view the
business world as a global community. The WTO, he explained, by listing
reasons, contributes to development. As for the issues, UNICE supports
market access and is opposed to tarriffs of any kind. Special and
differential treatment, which will be addressed at Cancun, should only be
temporary according to Mr. van den Hoven. He will allow for
transition periods but hopes to see a single set of rules in the long run.
He wholeheartedly supports the competition negotiations and the efforts that
have been directed towards capacity building. He thinks all member should
become full participants, which also means meeting trade commitments. The UNICE
website on the WTO has a more detailed description of which side the
organization stands on all trade related debates.
The presentation in PDF format
See GTN page on
development issues
Waqar Ahmad,
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Mr. Ahmad spoke from the developing country perspective about
the issue of market access in the Doha Round. He explained that for many
developing countries, tariffs are an important source of government revenue.
Because of their economic dependence on tariffs, both for jobs and maintaining
the strength of domestic industry, the market access issue is more complicated
than for developing than developed countries. Mr. Ahmad went on to explain the issue of
tariff barriers and how tariff "peaks are the most harmful type of export
barriers". They can rise to above 50% for some products and have extremely
damaging consequences on developing country exports. Textiles and clothing
are another issue of concern for developing countries. The Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing, which guarantees the elimination of all restrictions on
textiles by the year 2005, has been criticized for its timing as well as the
fact that only "the minimum requirements of the ATC are being met". The
Doha Mandate, addresses market access in paragraph 16. The work program
calls for reduction of tarrifs, especially on goods that are important for
developing countries. Challenges may arise in working out these
negotiations however, as developing countries themselves will be the targets of
the reductions as high tariffs are in place to protect local industries.
Mr. Ahmad suggested that the negotiations should include definitions of which
products are important to the least developed countries before tariff reduction
is considered. As for how to decide the level of tariffs he thinks that it
would be best to consider both the highest tariffs as well as the average
tariff.
Position Paper
See GTN page on market access
Guido Glania,
BDI German Industry Confederation
Mr. Glania addressed the same issues as Waqar Ahmad, but from a
different perspective. A representative of German Industry he expressed
the developed country viewpoint concerning non-tariff barriers to trade.
Restrictions relating to investment, competition or technical requirements can
prevent manufacturers from entering foreign markets. Standards, from
voltage differences to measurement systems, can hinder trade and increase
production costs. This problem is particularly troublesome for industrial
and electronics manufacturers. The Agreement on Technical Barriers to
Trade (TBT) describes which types of standards are allowed, promotes
transparency between systems and also allows for dispute settlement. Mr.
Glania feels that the TBT is too weak however, as it is too vague, too
bureaucratic and failed to develop cooperation that is needed to solve this
problem. He feels that in order to strengthen the TBT, there are many
steps that should be taken (see the link to his presentation below for a
description of specific measures he suggests).
The presentation in PDF format
See GTN page on market access
Lena Recknagel, CEFIC,
European Chemical Industries
The representative from CEFIC, speaking for the global chemical industry
discussed the need for a trade facilitation agreement within the WTO.
Recknagel outlined current problems businesses face in exporting their
goods, such as costs imposed by what was referred to as "cumbersome border
procedures". These inefficiencies (border delays, administrative
costs) could be eliminated by a trade facilitation agreement, thereby
helping business and promoting development. The WTO, Recknagel
explained is the best forum for such an agreement. Current bilateral
and regional agreements lack the weight and mandatory nature necessary to
create the needed amount of coordination. The universality and dispute
mechanism already in place within the WTO would greatly increase the
probability for success of such an agreement. Recknagel suggested
certain elements that a TF agreement should include. Standardization
of info and data requirements, in addition to the "relevant GATT principles"
such as transparency and least trade restrictive practices. There
should be an allowance for special treatment of developing countries, in
reference to implementation and technical assistance. Benefits from
such a system, Recknagel explained, would be reaped by businesses, consumers
as well as governments. In conclusion, the flexibility of the
hypothetical system, and its ability to accommodate concerns of developing
countries, was stressed.
The presentation in PDF format
See GTN page on trade facilitation
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