Annotated Agenda
High-Level Brainstorming Meeting for African Trade Negotiators Preparatory to the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference |
Jointly Organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), |
In collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) |
26 - 29 June 2001, |
First Day: 26 June 2001
1. Opening of the Meeting/Adoption of the Agenda
The representatives of the organizing agencies and partners in the elaboration of a positive agenda for African countries will make brief introductory remarks on the objectives of the meeting and expected outcome.
The following staff members will cover the opening session:
Dr. C. T. Mwalwanda, ECA
Dr. Fred Alipui, OAU
Mrs. Loumabeka, OAU
Mr. Geoffrey Mwau, ECA
2. Update on the WTO Work Programme Since Seattle and State-of-Play in Preparation for Doha Ministerial
Under this item, a factual report on the WTO work programme since Seattle and an assessment of the state-of-play in preparation for the Doha Ministerial will be presented.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Dr. D. Luke, OAU
Mrs. Aissatou Gueye, ECA
Mr. Fred Alipui, OAU
3. Action in Favour of Least Developed Countries - Strategy for Follow-Up of the Trade Cluster of the LDC III Plan of Action adopted in Brussels
Lead Discussant: Representatives of Djibouti, Lesotho and Tanzania Missions in Geneva and Office of the Special Co-ordinator for LDCs, UNCTAD
This item will focus on the trade cluster of the LDC III Plan of Action adopted in Brussels and an appropriate strategy for taking the issues forward.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Mr. Geoffrey Mwau, ECA
Mrs. Loumabeka, OAU
Second Day: 27 June 2001
1. Implementation Issues and Mandated Reviews
This item will focus on a number of concerns that have been identified by African and developing country members of the WTO with respect to specific aspects of several agreements and taking into account reviews mandated at the end of the Uruguay Round. Areas of concern include the Agreements on Anti-Dumping, Subsides, Sanitary and Phytosaniatry Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Textiles, Trade-Related Investment Measures, Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights, Customs Valuation, Rules of Origin, Agriculture, Services, Provisions on Special and Differential Treatment, and the Provisions of the GATT 1994 in regard to Balance-of-Payments (Article XII), and Economic Development (Article XVIII).
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Dr. D. Luke, OAU
Mrs. Aissatou Gueye, ECA
Mr. D. Tanoe, ECA
2. Agriculture
This item will review the WTO African Group paper that was submitted in the context of the special session process of the Committee on Agriculture, review research and technical backstopping needs, and assess the way forward.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Dr. Fred Alipui, OAU
Mr. Sam Cho, ECA
3. Services
This item will review the WTO African group paper that was submitted in the context of the special session process of the Council on Services, review research and technical backstopping needs and assess the way forward.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Dr. C.T. Mwalwanda, ECA
Mr. Koram, OAU
Third Day: 28 June 2001
1. New Issues: Investment, Competition Policy, Trade Facilitation, Transparency in Government Procurement, Trade Facilitation, Environment, Electronic Commerce
This item will review the study process for the new issues, review research and technical backstopping needs and assess the way forward.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Dr. Mwuke, ECA
Dr. D. Luke, OAU
2. Issues for Africa's Positive Agenda: Trade and Debt, Trade and Finance, Global Policy Coherence, WTO Systemic Issues including Transparency and Participation, Technical Assistance, Observer Status etc.
This item will review various constraints on the effective participation of African countries in the multilateral trading system with a view towards identifying elements for inclusion in Africa's positive agenda, as well as related research and technical backstopping needs.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
| Trade and Debt, Trade and Finance: | Dr. Fred Alipui, OAU Dr. C.T. Mwalwanda, ECA |
| Global Policy Coherence: | Mr. E. Louzet, ECA Mrs. R. O. Clinton, ECA |
| WTO Systemic Issues: | Mr. H. Nwokeabia, ECA Mr. Oliver Paddison, ECA Mrs. Loumabeka, OAU |
3. Co-ordination with the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement Negotiations and AGOA. /Update of Sub-Regional Trade Liberalisation Initiatives
Negotiation of a new trade regime between the ACP and EU is expected to begin in September 2002. In regard to the US initiative, AGOA, there is also provision for review of several its elements. In addition, several RECs are making systematic progress with respect to trade liberalisation among participating members. This item will assess the issues with a view towards ensuring consistency in the overall policy objectives and negotiating strategies.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Dr. Fred Alipui, OAU
Mrs. Aissatou Gueye, ECA
Mr. Adrian Gauci, ECA
Fourth Day: 29 June 2001
1. Future Strategy
This item will take stock of the discussion of all the agenda items during the meeting.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Mr. Geffrey Mwau, ECA
Dr. D. Luke, OAU
2. Round Table on the Challenges of Mainstreaming Trade in Development
This round table aimed at examining the challenges of mainstreaming trade in development policies will take place while the report of the meeting is being finalized for adoption.
The following staff members will cover this agenda item:
Dr. C. T. Mwalwanda, ECA
Dr. Fred Alipui, OAU
Mr. Sam Cho, ECA
Mr. Hilary, ECA
3. Review of the Main Conclusions and Recommendations of the Meeting, Adoption of the Report
The report of the meeting will be adopted under this item.
The same staff members servicing the opening session will cover this agenda item.
4. Closure of the Meeting