DECISION ON WTO NEGOTIATIONS
DOC. EX.CL/283 (IX)
The Assembly:
TAKES NOTE of the Report;
WELCOMES the efforts by the Ministers of Trade and African Negotiators in promoting the collective interests of Africa in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Negotiations on the Doha Work Programme and REQUESTS them to remain vigilant and steadfast in the protection of these interests in the remaining stages of the negotiations;
EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN on the limited progress made so far in the negotiations on issues of major interest to African countries;
EMPHASISES that any failure to incorporate Africa’s needs, interests and concerns within the outcome of the Doha Round will not only undermine Africa’s already limited trade opportunities, but also erode the autonomy and ability to pursue trade policies that would serve key developmental objectives such as employment, industrialization, food security, rural development and sustained economic growth in Africa;
REITERATES that the outcome of the Doha Round will be judged by the extent to which it takes into account the needs, interests and concerns of our countries and CALLS ON African Negotiators and Ministers of Trade not to join any consensus that is contrary to the interest of Africa and inconsistent with the developmental mandate of the Doha Round;
ENDORSES all the recommendations contained in the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration on the Doha Work Programme (April 2006);
WELCOMES the technical support provided by the Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to the African negotiators and REQUESTS them to continue to provide their technical support to Member States in the course of the negotiations;
REQUESTS ALSO the Heads of State who will take part in the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, to seek the support and cooperation of Heads of State of main Member countries of the WTO for Africa’s position so as to consolidate Africa’s interest in the Doha Round.