STATEMENT: TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA
(10:00-, Thursday, 11 April 2013, WTO CR)
1. Thank you, Pascal, for convening a TNC meeting today. I share your assessments on the current state of play. Although there are positive signs of engagements and progress in technical works, we are all disappointed by the speed and quality of progress made so far.
2. Let me try to be positive. We have common goal for the success in Bali, although the package is small in size but meaningful. We take note of technical discussions regarding agriculture and development proposals by the Chair last months. The Chair of the NGTF produced the revised text, although it still has numerous brackets. Now he restructured the process with the four Friends working together and sharing the burden on this complex negotiating issue.
3. On the other hand, we have not yet reached to the stage that we could try a horizontal approach seeking balance among the three pillars of trade facilitation, agriculture and development/LDC. It is the reality we have to accept that we do not have clear picture on the contour of the MC-9 deliverables at this stage. Another reality is that time is running out.
4. Regarding way forward, I would like to make a few quick comments on the three areas of possible candidates for deliverables at Bali:
- On trade facilitation, the NGTF needs to make substantive progress through different configuration of engagements including the FoC’s work. To this end, we need to keep the level of ambition while expecting each member’s flexibility based on mutual trust.
- On G-33 proposal, we appreciate the Chair’s effort in the technical discussions to raise the level of understanding and to identify concerns and interests of members involved. We encourage Chair to continue to have more substantive discussions with the sincere engagements of members concerned to seek solutions.
- On G-20 proposal regarding TRQ administration, we have to be cognizant of sensitivities involved in the proposal, which need to be fully respected.
- With regard to development/LDC issues, we encourage the Chair of CTD-SS to close existing gaps in constructive manner. Like others, I look forward to seeing the LDC proposal on the table as soon as possible.
5. In conclusion, next couple of months are crucial and the status-quo is not acceptable, to move seriously forward. To this end, I agree the comments by Mexico and others. We need sense of urgency, political will, and mutual trust. And, we need to adopt approaches combined with more engagement from our capitals. With participation of SOM or Ministers from capitals, we can enhance connectivity between Geneva and capitals, and could garner greater political inputs and flexibility for advancing our joint works for the MC-9 and beyond.
We would have an opportunity to assess the progress around the end of May and to consider what and how to do in the 9 weeks leading up to the summer recess.
6. Thank you. ///