Africa should take active part in WTO talks, report

African countries under the coordination of the African Union (AU) have been participating actively and should continue doing so in the current Doha round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks, said a report delivered here Wednesday.

The potential benefits of trade and globalization for African countries have been severely limited by the existing structure of multilateral trading system, which is characterized by unfair trade rules and imbalances against developing countries, said the report released at the ninth Ordinary Session of Executive Council of the African Union (AU), which came before the seventh AU summit due to be held on July 1 and 2.

The major issues of interests and concern to Africa in the WTO negotiations include the enhancement of trade-related technical assistance and capacity building for elimination of the supply- side constrains that hinder Africa's trade and growth performance.

They also include the enhancement of market access for African agricultural and industrial products through the elimination of agricultural export subsidies and trade distorting domestic support as well as high agricultural and industrial tariffs.

The progress achieved so far on these major issues of interests to Africa has been limited, according to the report.

Experience has shown that African countries will not be able to take full advantage of market access opportunities in the emerging multilateral trading system if the issues of trade capacity building and the removal of supply-side constraints are not effectively addressed.

To achieve a more development-friendly global trade regime, in which trade can serve as a more effective economic growth and human development, African countries should continue along the road, said the report.

Source: Xinhua