G90's arguments and positions on the agriculture only about the tariff and sensitive products

The Group of 90 ministerial meeting saw representatives and leaders of the G90 Group of 20 affirming the need for these two important groups of developing countries within the World Trade Organization to work in solidarity for a common cause.

In the G90 Working Group on Agriculture meeting, the delegates shared a lot of problems, despite acknowledging some progress. A serious concern is focused on long-term preferences for which the new text is a step backwards with respect to the July 2004 Framework. Indeed, a new paragraph 9 of the draft text, it seems, given to the question about the preferences of the end of this paragraph, after the issue of illicit drugs. This is seen as unacceptable and the absolute necessity of correction. G90 proposed a new formulation, respectively.

Also on the market access pillar, while the delegates present are pleased that the special products will be appointed for each country separately, they are also a pity that the proposal which SSM would be more favorable than that of Article 5 of the Agreement on Agriculture (Article relating to the special safeguard mechanisms) was not supported. Finally, the group regretted that the text supports the principle of expansion of tariff quotas for sensitive products, without referring to the posts in respect of preference erosion(Destler, p35).

Criticism of a pillar of export competition, focused mainly on the lack of provisions aimed at exempting developing countries state-owned companies from trade disciplines, although they acknowledged, taking into account the special problems of LDCs and NFIDCs in accordance with the decision of Marrakech. Finally, while the delegates were pleased that the new project will allow developing countries to continue receiving waivers in respect of export subsidies (commercialization, processing and transport), they nevertheless expressed regret that this provision is limited in time (5 years after the deadline for the elimination of all forms of export subsidies) (Bureau, p34).

In turn, Brazil's Foreign Minister, Celson Amorim, who coordinates the G20, said: They have great hopes of dialogue between the G20 and G90. They must unite their efforts to achieve our goals of fair trade system. Jagdeo eloquently highlighted the plight of small developing countries that depend on commodity exports, are vulnerable to low prices and the erosion or cessation of trade preferences, and whose interests have been neglected in the WTO.

The session also saw an interesting impromptu clash of opinion between the President of Guyana and a representative of the European Union on developing countries to take trade seriously enough. In addition, President Jagdeo and Amorim session was addressed by Guyana Foreign Trade Minister Clement Rohee, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Guyana, Per Eklund, ACP Secretary-General Jean-Robert Goulongana, and chief WTO general director of the cabinet Stuart Harbinson.

The session gave interesting indications positions of the various players and teams at this stage of negotiations for the seven weeks before the deadline for reaching a "framework agreement" targeted for adoption by the WTO General Council ...