Lanka supports WTO Bali package - Industry and Commerce Minister

The Doha Development Agenda has been on hold for 12 years. And despite challenges, Sri Lanka extends its fullest support and flexibility to a balanced WTO Bali package. "Despite the rebuilding challenge, Sri Lanka is ready to extend its fullest support towards a balanced Bali package that will ensure some tangible benefits," Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen told the ninth WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia recently.

The Minister represented Sri Lanka at the ninth session of the WTO Ministerial Conference, WTO's top-most decision making body, which meets every two years.

The conference was attended by all 159 member countries of the WTO and a large number of think-tanks, donor agencies, NGOs and civil society groups.

The Sri Lanka delegation, which was led by Minister Bathiudeen included senior officials of the Commerce Department and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the WTO, Geneva.

Sri Lanka obtained WTO membership in January, 1995, and its Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) status is 'Observer'. According to the WTO, Sri Lanka's contribution to WTO budget is 0.06% of the organisation's 2013 total. Tariff binding coverage is only 38% (ie., only 38% of products in Sri Lanka's list of commitments are legally committed and bound with the WTO).

In 2012, the share of duty free imports of non-agricultural products from the rest of WTO members (under most favoured nation rule) was 63.8% while only 3% of the total Lankan tariff lines were subjected to non ad-valorem taxes.

WTO identifies Sri Lanka's place in world merchandise exports at rank 92 and for commercial services, rank 81. Sri Lanka is not listed by WTO for any disputes except just one request for consultation.

"The ninth ministerial conference is taking place at a decisive juncture in the global economy.

The sluggish growth witnessed since the 2008 financial crisis has posed serious policy challenges for every country, big and small," Minister Bathiudeen said.

"The fast rising unemployment figures and the growing austerity measures we see in many parts of the world paint a disturbing scenario. Against this backdrop, we should make every possible effort to ensure that the Bali Ministerial Conference delivers at least a small, but balanced package, which can unblock the Doha impasse and provide us with a fresh start for negotiations," he said.

"With the dawn of peace and stability after nearly three decades of terrorism, Sri Lanka now faces the formidable challenge of rebuilding its economy. Despite this challenge, Sri Lanka is ready to extend its fullest support and flexibility toward a balanced Bali package that will ensure some tangible benefits to every member in the WTO family," the Minister said.

"We have achieved a great deal of consensus on the texts that are before us and this progress did not come-by easily. With stronger political commitment and a little more flexibility by every member, we will surely be able to walk the remaining mile, Bathiudeen said. "The Group of 15, a Summit Level Group of 19 developing countries currently chaired by Sri Lanka calls for a fresh impetus at the ninth Ministerial Council for an early conclusion of the Doha with a 'development' oriented outcome.

It also emphasises the importance of the accession to WTO by developing countries, particularly LDCs. An early outcome on the intended Bali package is also an imperative for us to restore the credibility of the WTO and the multilateral trading system it leads," he said.