ZCZC
BSS-35
WTO-DELHI-DECLARATION
WTO focuses on working together on multilateral trade
DHAKA/NEW DELHI, May 14, 2019 (BSS) – The two-day WTO ministerial meeting concluded
in New Delhi today with a declaration for all member countries to work together to
ensure the growth benefits for 7.3 billion people in developing countries.
Ministers and high-level officials from Egypt, Barbados, Central African Republic,
Nigeria, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, China, Benin, Chad, India,
Indonesia, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Oman met in the Indian capital May 13-14
May to explore ways for working with all members to strengthen the multilateral trading
system.
“We re-affirm that the dispute settlement system of the WTO is a central element in
providing security and predictability to the multilateral trading system. This has
proved to be more effective and reliable as compared to its predecessor, GATT,” said
the Delhi declaration.
It said members have failed to arrive at a consensus in the selection process to fill
vacancies in the Appellate Body and this ongoing impasse has weakened the dispute
settlement system and threatens to completely paralyze it by December 2019.
“We, therefore, urge all WTO members to engage constructively to address this
challenge without any delay in filling the vacancies in the Appellate Body,” added the
declaration.
Besides, an inclusive multilateral trading system based on equality and mutual
respect should ensure that all WTO Members abide by WTO rules and abjure any form of
protectionism. “The core value and basic principles of the multilateral trading system
must be preserved and strengthened, particularly with a view to building trust among
Members.”
To this end, the declaration said, “We urge WTO Members to adopt measures that are
compatible with WTO rules to avoid putting the multilateral trading system at risk.”
It said members may need to explore different options to address the challenges of
contemporary trade realities in a balanced manner.
“Special and Differential Treatment is one of the main defining features of the
multilateral trading system and is essential to integrating developing Members into
global trade,” said the declaration, adding, “Special and Differential Treatment
provisions are rights of developing Members that must be preserved and strengthened in
both current and future WTO agreements, with priority attention to outstanding LDC
issues.”
The meeting also stressed the importance of technical assistance and capacity
building provided to developing Members, in particular LDCs, including through the
Enhanced Integrated Framework, Aid for Trade and other tools.
BSS/PR/AIM/MAK/BR/2035