Bangladesh should carefully examine the implications of the outcome of the Bali MC9 and work towards addressing the attendant concerns over the next months.
The observation came from CPD senior researchers at a media briefing on “Bali Outcome of the WTO: What it Means for Bangladesh,” at the CPD office on Monday, 9 December 2013.
In her presentation, Dr Fahmida Khatun, Research Director, CPD identified the major implications for Bangladesh originating from the three areas on which the Bali discussion was focused – Development and LDC Issues, Trade Facilitation and Agriculture and Cotton.
She was of the opinion that Bangladesh’s concerns at Bali as regards duty-free quota free market access were not addressed in the expected manner. She felt that to what extent preferential rules of origin will be LDC-friendly, will depend on the post-Bali work programme and what transpires in the subsequent negotiations.
She thought that the decision as regards operationalisation of the services agreement meant that Bangladesh will need to do the necessary homework to identify sectors and modes of interest keeping in view the proposed High Level Meeting next year.
Dr Khatun also informed the media about CPD Delegation’s active participation in a number of important events in Bali, which were organised to advance the interests of the LDCs and developing countries. She mentioned that the CPD session titled “Integrating Trade Issues in Post-2015 International Development Framework: Ongoing Debates and Potential Opportunities,” held on the side lines of the Bali Ministerial on 5 December, was addressed by a number of leading scholars and trade experts. They stressed on ways and means to best embed trade issues in the post-MDG development discourse. CPD professionals also spoke as panellists and discussants at other forums organised by prominent international organisations and civil society actors.
Highlighting some of the points of interest to Bangladesh, Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, CPD noted that a rule-based multilateral trading system is important for Bangladesh and other relatively weak economies. A failure in Bali would have meant that bigger economies would get more opportunities to dictate global trade rules through mega blocs.
Professor Rahman noted that trade facilitation measures were important for reducing transaction costs and raising competitiveness of Bangladesh economy. He, however, felt that Bangladesh’s needs in trade facilitation areas could be appropriately addressed only if additional support through Aid for Trade or a dedicated TF support window was put in place under the ambit of the WTO.
Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Additional Research Director, noted that the impact of higher cotton prices due to removal of subsidies on final price of clothing was likely to be rather low since price of cotton comprised only a small percentage of final price of apparels.
The briefing, followed by Q&A with journalists, was also attended by Ms Anisatul Fatema Yousuf, Director, Dialogue and Communication; Mr Muhammad Al Amin and Ms Nusrat Jahan, Senior Research Associates. A large number of print and electronic media covered the event.
[box title=”Op-eds on the topic by Dr Fahmida Khatun” color=”#333333″]
Bali Outcome: Implications for Bangladesh
Published in The Daily Star on Tuesday, 10 December 2013.
বিশ্ব বাণিজ্য সংস্থা: কী মিলবে বালি সম্মেলন থেকে?
Published in Prothom Alo on Tuesday, 3 December 2013.
Why and what S&D Treatment for LDCs?
Published in Dhaka Tribune on Sunday, 1 December 2013.
Services waiver for LDCs in the WTO: Only a blank promise?
Published in The Daily Star on Wednesday, 27 November 2013.
বিশ্ব বাণিজ্য সংস্থার বালি ঘোষণা ও বাংলাদেশে এর তাৎপর্য
Published in Banik Barta on Sunday, 22 December 2013.
Presentation: Bali Outcome of the WTO: What it Means for Bangladesh
Dhaka Outcome Document of Pre-Bali International Conference
View Press Reports on the event
[/box]