WTO task force on Aid for Trade present recommendations
10 Aug '06
3 min read
While WTO negotiations in agriculture and non-agriculture market access (NAMA) were falling apart, the WTO task force on Aid for Trade (A4T) tabled its final recommendations at a meeting of the General Council on 27-28 July 2006.
At the Sixth Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005, the Ministerial Declaration endorsed the development of the Integrated Framework (IF) and created a new WTO work programme on A4T.
WTO Members gave the Director General a mandate to: create a task force to provide recommendations by July 2006 on how to operationalise A4T; and to consult with Members, international organizations and development banks on mechanisms to secure additional financial resources.
On 27 July 2006 the task force presented the recommendations which, although praised by WTO members, will only be considered at the next General Council meeting, scheduled for October. This discussion focuses on A4T and the recommendations made by the task force.
A4T is a reflection of the fact that trade liberalization in itself does not automatically lead to growth and development.
Taking advantage of improvements in market access means additional domestic policy reform to facilitate trade as well as trade-related capacity building.
However, it should be noted that A4T cannot be a substitute for the development benefits resulting from a successful conclusion to the Doha Declaration Agenda especially on market access.
marketing@alchempro.com
