|
We, the Ministerial Representatives responsible for trade, meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, on the 3rd and 4th June, 20041, examined the state of progress in the negotiations in the World Trade Organisation [WTO] based on the mandates of the Fourth and Fifth Ministerial Conferences held at Doha and Cancun respectively with a view to identifying common elements for a G90 platform as a contribution to the G90 Ministerial Meeting scheduled in Mauritius on 12-14 July 2004;
Recognising the importance of the General Council meeting scheduled for 27-29 July 2004 in taking the DDA process forward. In this regard, the G90 intends to make a positive contribution; Re-affirming our commitment to the multilateral system guided by the principles and objectives stipulated in the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation; Recalling the Ministerial Declaration and the other decisions reached at Doha, in particular those relating to Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries which place the needs and interests of developing countries at the centre of the Doha Work Programme; Affirming the Dakar Declaration adopted at the 3rd LDC Trade Ministers Meeting in Dakar and the Kigali Declaration and Kigali Consensus adopted at the meeting of Ministers of Trade of the African Union (AU) in Kigali 27-28th May 2004; Noting that the ACP Trade Ministers are scheduled to meet in Mauritius 10-12th June 20004; Further reaffirming the G90 common negotiating position in Cancun as outlined in the Consolidated African Union, ACP/ LDC Position on Agriculture (WT/MIN(03)/W/17)03), the Position of the African Union, Least-Developed Countries, African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries on Non-Agricultural Market Access (WT/MIN(03)/W/18), the AU/ACP/LDC Joint Position on Development Issues (WT/MIN(03)/W/20), and the African Union/ACP/LDC Position on the Singapore issues (WT/MIN(03)/W/19); Encouraged by the efforts made by all WTO Members since Cancún to resume the talks and advance the process of negotiations; Aware of the importance of the WTO General Council meeting set for July 2004 for completing agreements on a framework that eluded members in Cancun and giving impetus to the conclusion of the Doha Work programme; Conscious of the need to accelerate inter-group negotiations and discussions in an effort to reach balanced agreements on a framework by the end of July; Disappointed with the current lack of flexibility in the negotiations mandated at Doha on subjects of interest to developing countries, such as implementation issues, special and differential treatment, small economies, modalities for agricultural reform and non-agricultural market access, and cotton; Concerned about the continued erosion of market access preferences for our exports, inadequate adjustment periods and the lack of compensation for the attendant losses in earnings; Encouraged by the initiative of the EU to recognize G90 countries and their proposal to exemptions them from further commitments in some areas; Call upon the Members of the WTO to fully take into account the interests and development needs of G90 countries and agree on the positions as outlined in the Georgetown Consensus on the Doha Work Programme. We thank the Government and the People of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for hosting the meeting, for the warm hospitality extended to us and for the excellent facilities put at our disposal. Done in Georgetown, Guyana 1 Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Cuba, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Zambia |
|
Press ReleasesStatements and Declarations
