THE PARALLEL TRADE THE PARALLEL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS:NEGOTIATIONS:

WITH THE EU AND AT THE WTOWITH THE EU AND AT THE WTO

THE PARALLEL TRADE THE PARALLEL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS:NEGOTIATIONS:

WITH THE EU AND AT THE WTOWITH THE EU AND AT THE WTO

Manuela Tortora

Trade Negotiations and

Commercial Diplomacy

UNCTADWEB/CDP/PPT/37

Ecowas Regional Workshopon Agriculture and Food SecurityConakry, 8-9 April 2002 UNCTAD

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2 parallel negotiations,2 parallel negotiations,1 single preparatory process...1 single preparatory process...

...focused on the following questions:...focused on the following questions:

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TOTO

WHAT WHAT

EXTENT:EXTENT:

TOTO

WHAT WHAT

EXTENT:EXTENT:

are the interests of the ACP are the interests of the ACP countries the same in both countries the same in both negotiations?negotiations?

can the ACP objectives be can the ACP objectives be achieved in both negotiations?achieved in both negotiations?

the gains and the costs involved the gains and the costs involved by one of the negotiations will by one of the negotiations will become precedents for the other become precedents for the other one?one?

can the ACP countries identify can the ACP countries identify their interests and objectives?their interests and objectives?

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COMPARISON OF THE 2 NEGOTIATING COMPARISON OF THE 2 NEGOTIATING PROCESSESPROCESSES

DOHA WORK DOHA WORK PROGRAMME:PROGRAMME:

• Modalities for the Modalities for the negotiations on agriculture negotiations on agriculture (ongoing)(ongoing)

• Identification of S&D Identification of S&D mandatory provisions in all mandatory provisions in all the WTO agreements by July the WTO agreements by July 20022002

• Mid-2003: decision on the Mid-2003: decision on the Singapore issues at the 5thSingapore issues at the 5th Ministerial ConferenceMinisterial Conference

• Jan.1st 2005: “single Jan.1st 2005: “single undertaking”undertaking”

DOHA WORK DOHA WORK PROGRAMME:PROGRAMME:

• Modalities for the Modalities for the negotiations on agriculture negotiations on agriculture (ongoing)(ongoing)

• Identification of S&D Identification of S&D mandatory provisions in all mandatory provisions in all the WTO agreements by July the WTO agreements by July 20022002

• Mid-2003: decision on the Mid-2003: decision on the Singapore issues at the 5thSingapore issues at the 5th Ministerial ConferenceMinisterial Conference

• Jan.1st 2005: “single Jan.1st 2005: “single undertaking”undertaking”

COTONOU MANDATES:COTONOU MANDATES:• ““Geographical Geographical

configuration” defined by configuration” defined by Sept.2002Sept.2002

• Assessment of non-LDCs Assessment of non-LDCs situation by 2004situation by 2004

• Assessment of the Assessment of the negotiations by 2006negotiations by 2006

• Conclusion of the Conclusion of the negotiations by Jan. 2008negotiations by Jan. 2008

COTONOU MANDATES:COTONOU MANDATES:• ““Geographical Geographical

configuration” defined by configuration” defined by Sept.2002Sept.2002

• Assessment of non-LDCs Assessment of non-LDCs situation by 2004situation by 2004

• Assessment of the Assessment of the negotiations by 2006negotiations by 2006

• Conclusion of the Conclusion of the negotiations by Jan. 2008negotiations by Jan. 2008

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THE MAIN QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE MAIN QUESTIONS RAISED BY THESE 2 NEGOTIATIONS:THESE 2 NEGOTIATIONS:

1.-The concept of S&D1.-The concept of S&D

2.-How to prepare both agriculture 2.-How to prepare both agriculture negotiationsnegotiations

3.-The “geographical configuration”3.-The “geographical configuration”

4.-Other issues4.-Other issues

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1.-The concept of S&D1.-The concept of S&D should be should be consolidated in both negotiations by:consolidated in both negotiations by:

Sustained political support to the Sustained political support to the concept at the WTO so as to defend the concept at the WTO so as to defend the notion of preferential regimes in the notion of preferential regimes in the multilateral rulesmultilateral rules

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Identify the S&D provisions required in Identify the S&D provisions required in each one of the WTO agreements, in each one of the WTO agreements, in particular:particular: in agriculture market acces for the non-agricultural

products rules for the regional trade agreements specific provisions for the LDCs

The concept of S&D The concept of S&D should be should be consolidated in both negotiations byconsolidated in both negotiations by : :

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The concept of S&D should be The concept of S&D should be consolidated in both negotiations by:consolidated in both negotiations by:

Operationalise the S&D “intentions” Operationalise the S&D “intentions” contained in the Cotonou text (in contained in the Cotonou text (in particular in art.34.4) so as to ensure that particular in art.34.4) so as to ensure that the S&D level of future ACP/EU the S&D level of future ACP/EU agreements should not be less than the agreements should not be less than the one established at the WTO, and that one established at the WTO, and that different levels of development will be different levels of development will be recognised.recognised.

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What needs to be defined so as to What needs to be defined so as to materialise the S&D provisions at the WTO materialise the S&D provisions at the WTO

and in the ACP/EU negotiations:and in the ACP/EU negotiations:

• The transitional periodsThe transitional periods• The product coverage The product coverage • The tariff dismantling (timetable and The tariff dismantling (timetable and

modalities)modalities)• The “compensatory” measures to address the The “compensatory” measures to address the

supply capacity constraints and transfer of supply capacity constraints and transfer of technologytechnology

• The technical assistanceThe technical assistance• The degree of reciprocity and preferences The degree of reciprocity and preferences

entailed in the ACP/EU regimeentailed in the ACP/EU regime

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2.-How to prepare both agriculture 2.-How to prepare both agriculture negotiations:negotiations:

Consider the overall EU position in Consider the overall EU position in agriculture negotiations: the EU will not agriculture negotiations: the EU will not have a different position as compared to have a different position as compared to the one taken at the WTO.the one taken at the WTO.

The modalities of the negotiations as they The modalities of the negotiations as they are being discussed at the WTO will are being discussed at the WTO will certainly be a basic reference at the certainly be a basic reference at the ACP/EU level. ACP/EU level.

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3.-The question of the “geographical 3.-The question of the “geographical configuration” for the ACP/EU configuration” for the ACP/EU

negotiations:negotiations:

The ACP countries need to decide before The ACP countries need to decide before Sept. 2002 if they will negotiate Sept. 2002 if they will negotiate individually or at the subregional level.individually or at the subregional level.

A “framework agreement” prepared by A “framework agreement” prepared by the ACP countries could be envisaged, the ACP countries could be envisaged, with bilateral or subregional annexes with bilateral or subregional annexes

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4.-Other issues4.-Other issues

The support that the EU could provide to The support that the EU could provide to the ACP countriesthe ACP countries

The Commodity ProtocolsThe Commodity Protocols