Rapporteur’s Note on Launch Meeting

Following issues came out through the discussion during the meeting, which can be incorporated in the research paper:

Specific topics – Possible research areas

AGRICULTURE

#          It was a question of debate in the meeting that should we focus on one or two issues of common interest.

-     Expanding scope of Special & Differential Interest for LDCs & developing countries?

-     Identifying supply side constraints & seeking to remove them (to ensure that we maximize our gains as agricultural  trade begins to get more and more liberalised)

-     Seek a cap on ‘green box’ – (part of the shift from defensive to offensive agenda)

-     Specific research on ‘Special Products’ definition – and trying to list specific product profiles under each of the current criteria (rural devlopment, livelihood, food security) – and then seek protection for them.

SERVICES

#          Identify bottlenecks to mode-4 liberalisation (of interest to all countries) & develop common positions on this?

#     Also identify specific positions in the services negotiations that focus on the unskilled labour.  Currently much of the focus in the region has been on Hi-Tech services that may have very little to do with poverty alleviation and unemployment.  So basically, to look at services negotiations as a place to push for more jobs for unskilled or low-skill labour – Can this project identify some of miscellaneous areas?

NAMA

#          Study what works best for South Asian countries & why, on :

(a)    Linear formula vs. Non-Linear formula – if it is non-linear, then should it be different for developed & developing countries (have 2 co-efficient)

(b)   Overall reduction in tariffs & NTBs vs. Sector wise reduction – if it is sectorwise , should it be same for devloped & developing or different

Also if it is sectoral, then which ones should we offer within the region first?  Can we eliminate them for trade within the region?

TRADE FACILITATION

-     Research could focus on identifying specific bottlenecks (delays, restrictions, duties/fees, documentation, other formalities) through case studies – to examine their necessity and to see which ones can be and need to be reduced at the country level.

-     This could help list what kind of technical assistance & capacity building is needed from developing countries.

-     Research could also identify specific NTBs that are being imposed by buyers from devloping countries – which impact trade facilitation – like more detailed documentation.

-     At a regional level, can we develop a common position on trade facilitation – do we move towards a weak agreement without binding anything or to a binding agreement subject to technical assistance?

-     And can we focus on research towards some first steps towards harmonizing say formats of documents, or a common insurance for carriers – for the region.  Can the research focus on this?

DEVELOPMENT DIMENSIONS

-     Specific research questions were highlighted – on S & D T, on important issues on capacity building and on market access – taking suggestions from the floor, it may be useful to focus on 5-6 specific issues – to flag them for negotiators.

-     The research could also by & list out the WTO and kind of commitments that LDCs & developing countries in the region have signed on or are being asked to sign on to – either at the time of accession or through Bi-lateral agreements.

-     At a regional level, can we articulate a position that unless these developmental issues/concerns are addressed, the South Asian region is unlikely to agree to any further commitments.

-     But at the same time, identify those specific concerns (that come up from the stakeholder perception surveys/action research) that can & must be addressed at home

OVERALL PROJECT – CONTENT 

1.  Must try and forge common positions wherever possible – despite South Asian countries being large & small, developing & LDCs.

2.  Issue of ‘Preferential market access’ currently enjoyed by LDCs – do we retain this or seek to remove it?  Do LDC’s gain (in the long run) or does it make their domestic producer uncompetitive?  Can we look at other ways to provide market access – without going down the preferential route?  There are other issues with preferential market access too – so can we look for alternative routes – that ensure market access, but not through this ‘preferential route?

3.  Also, other issues where the majority of the countries in the South Asian region stand to gain by pushing for measure ‘X’ but others may stand to lose marginally.  Can we look at pushing for a common position on, say measure ‘X’, provided the losers can be compensated by a regional arrangement?  So that negotiating strength is collectively enhanced.

4.  Cross-negotiation – not just within say.  The 4 modes in services, but across agreements – can we identify areas where we may be willing to give up as well – in a sense, moving to a proactive positive offensive agenda, as opposed to the largely defensive agenda currently practiced.  Can we develop these ‘cross negotiation’ agendas & share them within the region?  Of course, this will need strong domestic policies in place prior – but can we, through this project, identify some of these opportunities?