Special Products and a Special Safeguard Mechanism: Ensuring a Pro-Poor Approach in the Pre-Modalities Stage
16th – 17th June 2005
Description
WTO Members adopted, on 1st August 2004, the General Council Decision on the Doha Work Programme. Annex A of this Decision sets out a framework constituting the basis for the crafting of full modalities during the next phase of negotiations. Paragraph 41 of the framework clearly states: “Developing countries will have the flexibility to designate an appropriate number of products as Special Products, based on criteria of food security, livelihood security and rural development needs.” The text also indicates that the criteria and treatment of special products will be further specified. In addition, paragraph 42 states that “A Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) will be established for use by developing countries”, the details of which are presently being negotiated.
In order to facilitate an approach for the selection of Special Products (SPs) and modalities for the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) that is responsive to the sustainable development needs and concerns of developing countries, ICTSD has been undertaking a programme of dialogues and research. This included the commissioning of six country studies in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kenya, Peru, Honduras and Barbados. In addition ICTSD also commissioned four cross-cutting papers on issues related to the crafting of actual modalities on SPs/SSM at the WTO.
The purpose of the Strategy Roundtable in June will be to enable WTO delegates from the G-33 countries and relevant experts to listen to and discuss the approaches and methodologies used for determining SPs/SSM in the six case-study countries as well as the findings from the cross-cutting research on issues directly pertinent to the WTO negotiations. Based on this participants will seek to explore the implications and possible options in terms of SP/SSM negotiating strategies that will ensure that modalities agreed upon in the lead-up to the Hong Kong Ministerial conference is pro-poor and pro-sustainable development and responsive to the rural development, food-security and livelihood needs of these countries.
The conclusions from this Roundtable as well as the outcomes from previous dialogues and research will form the basis for a ‘blue-print’ that will be commissioned by ICTSD and circulated in the near future. In keeping with the objective of earlier dialogues organised by ICTSD, the Roundtable will provide a platform for a frank and open discussion in a non-negotiating setting with the ultimate goal of promoting a better understanding of relevant issues at the interface of agriculture, trade and sustainable development. (For details please see http://www.agtradepolicy.org).
Programme
Agenda, 16 June 2005, 14:00-18:00
14.00-14.20 Welcoming Remarks and Introduction
Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Executive Director, ICTSD
14.20-14.40 Possible Methodologies for the SP/SSM
Luisa Bernal, South Centre
14.40-15.00 The Designation of SPs and Use of Safeguards in Bilateral Trade Agreements
Carlos Pomareda (Servicios Internacionales para el Desarrollo Empresarial (SIDESA)
15.00-16.00 Discussants
The discussion will kick off with a brief commentary by the expert authors of the ICTSD country studies on SP/SSM:
- Emalene Marcus-Burnett, Barbados Agricultural Planning Unit, Barbados
- Teresa M. Deras, Independent Consultant, Honduras
- De. Hezron Nyangito, Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), Kenya
- Dr. Anura Herath, Independent Consultant, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Sohail Malik, Innovative Development Strategies, Pakistan
- Julio Paz Cafferata, Independant Consultant, Peru
16.00-16.15 Coffee Break
16.15-18.00 Discussion
Agenda, 17 June 2005, 09.30-17.00
09.30-09.50 Welcoming Remarks and Introduction
Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Executive Director, ICTSD
09.50-10.10 July Approximations: Options Under the Tiered Formula and the Impact for the G33: Current G33 Tariff Structures: Issues for the Negotiations
Mario Jales
Special Products
10.10-10.30 Special Products: Possible Modalities for SPs
Anwarul Hoda (to be confirmed)
10.30-11.15 Discussants
- Julio Paz Cafferata, Independent Consultant, Peru
- Dr. Sohail Malik, Innovative Development Strategies, Pakistan
- Dr. Hezron Nyangito, Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), Kenya
11.15-11.30 Coffee Break
11.30-12.30 Discussion (continued)
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-13.50 Possible Modalities for a Special Safeguard Mechanism
Jamie Morrison, FAO
13.50-14.35 Discussants
- Teresa M. Deras, Independant Consultant, Honduras
- Emalene Marcus-Burnett, Barbados Agricultural Planning Unit, Barbados
- Dr. Anura Herath, Independant Consultant, Sri Lanka
- A representative from the Indian Mission
13.35-15.00 Coffee Break
15.00-17.00 Discussion (continued)
Participants
COUNTRY STUDY EXPERTS
Anura Herath
Independant Consultant, Sri Lanka
Hezron Nyangito
Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), Kenya
Nicholas Waiyaki
Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), Kenya
Sohail Malik
Innovative Development Strategies, Pakistan
Akhtar Mahmood
Innovative Development Strategies, Pakistan
Teresa Maria Deras
Independant Consultant, Honduras
Martin Quan
Independant Consultant, Honduras
Hugo Castillo
Independant Consultant, Honduras
Emalene Marcus-Burnett
Barbados Agricultural Planning Unit
Gregg Rawlins
FAO, Barbados
Julio Paz
Independant Consultant, Peru
CROSS-CUTTING STUDY EXPERTS
Carlos Pomareda
Servicios Internacionales para el Desarrollo Empresarial (SIDE SA), Costa Rica
Mario Jales
Brazil
NATIONAL POLICY MAKERS
Shoukat Randhawa
Pakistan
James Mwangi Kiiru
Kenya
Gothami Indikadahena
Sri Lanka
Cesar Diaz
Honduras
DELEGATES
Nicole Clarke
Permanent Mission of Barbados
H.E. Charles Thembani Ntwaagae
Permanent Mission of Botswana
Xie Jianmin
Permanent Mission of China
H.E. Patrick Gomes
Permanent Mission of Guyana
Brenda Napky
Permanent Mission of Honduras
Agus Heryana
Permanent Mission of Indonesia
Cheryl Spencer
Permanent Mission of Jamaica
Anne Kamau
Permanent Mission of Kenya
JongHan Park
Permanent Mission of Korea
Shazinaz Sahadutkhan
Permanent Mission of Mauritius
Suren Badral
Permanent Mission of Mongolia
Eduardo Castillo
Permanent Mission of Nicaragua
Zulaikha Abdullahi
Permanent Mission of Nigeria
Zafar Qadir
Permanent Mission of Pakistan
Mujeeb Ahmed Khan
Permanent Mission of Pakistan
Ivan Vergara
Permanent Mission of Panama
Miranda Milagros
Permanent Mission of Peru
Mr. Sek
Permanent Mission of Senegal
H.E. Gomi Senadhira
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Myrna Huggins
Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago
Mustafa Imr
Permanent Mission of Turkey
INTER- AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND OTHERS
Romain Benicchio
Oxfam International
Celine Charveriat
Oxfam International
Kripali Manek
DFID
Laura Kelly
DFID
Jamie Morrison
FAO
Luisa Bernal
South Centre
Alexandra Strickner
IATP
Carin Smaller
IATP
Miho Shirotori
UNCTAD
ICTSD
Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Executive Director
Christophe Bellmann, Programmes Director
Constantine Bartel, Assistant Programmes Director
Mahesh Sugathan, Programme Coordinator, Economics and Trade Policy Analysis
Sarah Mohan, Junior Program Officer, Natural Resources, Environment and Agriculture
Hilde Ludt, Programme Assistant, Natural Resources, Environment and Agriculture