Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gaël Rangain
Published on 2024-03-01 15:00:07
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maneesh Gobin, participated in the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO (MC13) in Abu Dhabi. On Monday, he spoke at the working sessions dedicated to the Ministerial Conversation on Trade and Sustainable Development and the Ministerial Conversation on Trade and Inclusion. He warned against the potential dangers of the abuse of industrial policy and environmental sustainability programs by developed countries to increase trade protectionism following recent disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and the pressing challenge of climate change.
The minister emphasized that such behavior, if not controlled, could widen the existing gap in trade relations between developed and developing countries, thereby hindering the industrial capacities and economic diversification efforts of the latter. He stressed the importance of tailored solutions within the WTO negotiations to address the industrial aspirations of developing countries.
This approach, focused on facilitating technology transfer, enhancing exports, and providing financial support for industrial development, aims to bridge the gap in industrial capacities and promote inclusive economic growth. He also argues that it is vital to rebalance trade rules within WTO agreements, especially the agreement on subsidies and countervailing measures and the agreement on trade-related investment measures.
Maneesh Gobin proposes that the WTO undertake a review of current trade rules and propose new ones to support the industrialization efforts of developing countries and promote a more equitable and inclusive global trade system. These adjustments will help small island developing states (SIDS), like Mauritius, to pursue industrial development strategies tailored to their specific needs and economic ambitions.
On the other hand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned the need for a balanced approach that promotes international trade while protecting the environment without unfairly penalizing developing countries and SIDS. This requires the establishment of mechanisms within the WTO to remove obstacles to trade in environmental goods and services, promote sustainable technologies, and assess the implications of unilateral environmental measures.
Maneesh Gobin called for sustained efforts to meet the climate finance commitments made under the Paris Agreement, while highlighting technical assistance programs and capacity-building to help developing countries integrate trade and environmental policies towards sustainable development.
Speaking at the Ministerial Conversation on Trade and Inclusion, the minister reiterated the need for greater inclusion in the multilateral trade system. “It is imperative that the WTO prioritize inclusive policies ensuring that trade benefits not only those with productive capacities, resources, technologies, and finances, but also uplifts the underprivileged, thus promoting global economic justice and equality,” he said.
Inclusivity requires mitigating capacity and competitiveness constraints of developing countries to enable them to fully participate in the trade opportunities offered by the WTO. Inclusive trade practices also dictate that WTO rules should not hinder countries’ ability to support economic diversification, concluded Maneesh Gobin.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
