Seeking early conclusion to Doha trade negations

NAMIBIA wants an earlier conclusion to the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Round of trade negotiations which are aimed at liberalising trade across the globe.

The Doha Development Round was launched in 2001 with the aim of lowering trade barriers such as tariffs and strengthening the powers of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The negotiations have dragged on for years because of disagreements between the United States and the European Union and developing countries regarding agricultural policies and levels of permissible tariffs. Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Tjekero Tweya said yesterday that Namibia wants to see an early multilateral trade accord which he said must be consistent with the mandate agreed in Doha in 2001.

“The Doha Round stands at a cross roads. The credibility and viability of the multilateral trading system is increasingly the focus of attention.” Tweya was speaking at an occasion to introduce the chairperson of the WTO’s technical assistance programme on teaching, researching and conducting outreach activities on WTO trade related issues at the University of Namibia yesterday. The WTO has appointed the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Science at Unam, Dr Oma Kakuyaha Matundu, as chair of its four year technical assistance programme.

Dr Kakuyaha Matundu will spearhead the programme which is aimed at strengthening local and regional capacity on wide ranging issues related to global trade laws and WTO trade agreements. The programme’s objective is to impart knowledge on international trade law and policy.

A Post Graduate and a Master Programme on Trade Policy will also be offered at the university. Tweya said that open and undistorted trade would create an environment in which developing economies could diversify their exports and deepen their integration into the global trading system. Unam is one of the 14 universities from developing countries that were selected by the WTO to hold the chair.

The WTO Deputy Director General Dr Harsha Singh said the aim of WTO Chairs Programme is to assist Namibia and other developing countries in gaining expertise in trade policy matters. “It is envisaged that through their research support, the Chairs will be able to provide critical support to trade negotiators and to further the interest of their respecive countries,” Dr Singh said.

click to enlarge WE WANT AN EARLY CONCLUSION: ( Left to right) Professor Baloro of UNAM, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Tjekero Tweya and WTO Deputy Director General Dr Harsha Singh. © Photo: FILE