Opening Remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Key Doha Round Issues
by
Geert van der Linden
Vice-President, Knowledge Management & Sustainable Development
Asian Development Bank
16 June 2004
Osaka, Japan
Honorable Governor, Madam Fusae Ohta, Osaka Prefectural Government; eminent resource persons; distinguished participants; ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), l welcome all of you to this 3-day High-Level Meeting on Key Doha Round Issues. I am happy to be here in Osaka to represent the Asian Development Bank, the organizer of this event. Osaka, being the center of the industrial heartland of Japan, is an engine of growth and a great trading center. It is, therefore, appropriate to hold this high-level meeting in such a vibrant and trade-oriented city.
Trade, Growth and Developing Member Countries (DMCs)
The role of a progressively open trade regime in promoting growth and development has become received wisdom in the Asian context. Trade imparts market discipline and is the catalyst for undertaking microeconomic reforms and adoption of new technologies that are essential for sustainable improvements in productivity.
The huge increase in intraregional trade in Asia in the last two years has significantly contributed to regional growth. Free trade agreements (FTAs) are mushrooming in Asia, although an open, fair, equitable rule-based multilateral trading system embodied in the World Trade Organization (WTO) is vital and preferable for developing countries in the region.
ADB's Involvement in the Trade Sector
Since trade plays a key role in economic growth, development and employment - all contributing to poverty reduction, ADB has a keen interest in creating a favorable trading environment i.e. trade liberalization and facilitation. This includes elimination and reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, creation of disciplines and rules on a particular sector; measures to facilitate trade, and modernization of customs authorities and procedures.
ADB, therefore, provides assistance to its DMCs to promote trade as a means for economic growth and poverty reduction. This is consistent with the international community's (e.g. G7, WTO, OECD, APEC) call for technical assistance and capacity building activities to DMCs on trade-related areas such as foreign direct investments (FDIs), competition policy and WTO-related capacity building. To this end, ADB concluded an MOU with WTO on technical cooperation in May 2002.
ADB's Second Capacity Building Program
Now, I would like to briefly touch upon ADB's involvement in WTO-related capacity building activities. We have completed a first capacity building program that included a High-Level meeting on the WTO Trading System and three intensive courses on trade facilitation, customs valuation, and TRIPS agreement. These were highly appreciated by DMC participants.
The second program that is being launched today consists of four components, namely a High-Level Meeting on Key Doha Round Issues, Osaka, 16-18 June 2004, and three intensive courses on antidumping; rules of origin; and investment. Out of 41 DMCs, there are 22 WTO members and 10 WTO applicants and this second program focuses on these 32 countries.
Through these activities, we expect to assist:
- DMCs to implement WTO agreements so that they are integrated into the WTO trading system;
- DMCs in actively participating in the Doha Round (Doha Development Agenda [DDA]); and
- those DMCs applying for WTO membership.
Main Issues to be Tackled in this High-Level Meeting
We are observing with keen interest the developments in Doha Development Agenda and this interest is reflected in our program for the next three days. The program includes an overview of the Doha Round; its sectoral issues, such as agriculture; market access; development issues focusing on textiles; accession issues; and dispute settlement issues. We also cover trade policies and Doha Round in three major markets of the EU, Japan and United States.
We are fortunate to have several eminent persons here today to discuss these difficult topics, in particular, the participation of Mr. Clayton Yeutter, who will deliver his keynote speech on The Doha Round, Comin' Alive. As you know Mr. Yeutter was instrumental in launching the Uruguay Round. As he also served as United States Secretary of Agriculture, we all expect his insights in this most difficult area in DDA.
Conclusion
We are encouraged to know that the Osaka Authority has a keen interest in continuing to host WTO-related high-level meetings. This also has the strong support of Japan's Ministry of Finance. In view of the continuing importance of international trade for development in the ADB DMCs, I will instruct the Department in charge of this program to prepare a proposal that would enable ADB to continue providing support for this important area.
In closing, I would like to thank the Government of Japan for its financial support to this capacity building program, through the Japan Special Fund. My sincere appreciation also goes to Madam Ohta of the Osaka Prefectural Government for hosting this important event.
I wish all of you success in the discussions over the next three days.
Thank you.
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