WTO negotiations: Make “Special Products” relevant for Africa's development, says Beninois Minister of Trade

Cotonou, 4 May 2007 (ECA) - The Minister of Industry and Trade of Benin, Mr. Soumanou I. Moudjaidou, yesterday in Cotonou called on trade experts and African Ambassadors based in Geneva to propose a clear methodology for defining “special products” in a way that addresses Africa's development needs in WTO negotiations.

Mr. Moudjaidou was speaking at the opening of a two-day ad-hoc experts group meeting convened, in Cotonou by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with African Union, United Nations Development Programme, and the African Group in WTO.

Based on their needs in critical areas such as food security, rural development and economic diversification, developing countries are allowed to designate some products as “special”.

Special products are mandated on the basis of protecting food security objectives, rural livelihoods and rural developments. The ultimate goal is to safeguard the vulnerable and fragile subsistence agriculture systems in Africa that are so critical to poverty reduction.

In his opening remarks, M. Hakim Ben Hammouda, ECA's director of Trade, Finance and Economic Development welcomed the importance accorded in the Doha Round to market access, special and differentiated treatment and other developmental concerns.

He called for a speedy finalization of the Doha Round to help African countries benefit from a better market access. In this respect, he underscored the high level of expertise required to effectively address technical issues in trade negotiations such as special products and seize the development opportunities lying in the Doha round.

”Our objective today is to feed the positions of the African Group in WTO with solid technical elements,” said Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda.

The meeting will discuss the status of the Doha Round, the status of the negotiations on special products, methodologies and applications of special products, differential treatment in the Doha Round and sensitive products and market access for developing countries.

It is being attended by African Ambassadors based in Geneva, policymakers in trade and industry ministries as well as other international trade experts. Discussions will build on the findings of studies conducted by the African Trade policy center at ECA and other institutions.