African CSOs under ATN put Forward Proposals towards making the Multilateral Trading System work for Africa and Developing Countries
African CSOs under ATN put Forward Proposals towards making the Multilateral Trading System work for Africa and Developing Countries
Ahead of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), TWN-Africa and SEATINI-Uganda, under the auspices of the Africa Trade Network (ATN), organised a preparatory webinar on the Ministerial Conference on 8th February 2024.
To open the webinar, Mr. Sylvester Bagooro, Program Officer at Third World Network Africa who moderated the webinar noted that the ultimate test of any trade rule is whether it promotes economic transformation. He also noted that most countries in Africa exhibit high dependence on primary commodities therefore trade rules should support economic diversification.
“We measure trade rules against their potential to drive economic transformation,” he noted. Mr. Bagooro further recommended that it is crucial to align trade policy positions at both the multinational and continental levels to ensure coherence and effectiveness.
Ms. Kinda Mohamadieh, Legal Advisor and Senior Researcher at Third World Network, highlighted the challenges faced during the lead-up to MC13, stating, “we can remember how the last ministerial conference was, MC12, with a lot of process issues particularly in terms of the small group negotiations.”
Ms. Kinda also cautioned against attempts by developed countries to appropriate development-related discourse, stating, “we see the others from developed countries that are trying to appropriate different notions of development, they argue that development is not an issue for developing countries only. They too suffer forms of development challenges.” She noted that this poses a danger of diluting the key issues around which developing countries have coalesced. She therefore emphasized the importance of defending and substantiating development-related terminology to uphold the narrative surrounding development issues at MC13.
Ms. Kinda also warned against ongoing trends within the WTO like the erosion of consensus-based decision-making if we continue seeing the trends in flexibilization and informalization of the processes at the WTO. The WTO Dispute Settlement mechanism currently lacking a functioning appellate body which will delay the appeals process to enforce timely resolution of trade disputes. This further disproportionally works against the developing countries and tilts the balance of bargaining power in favor of developed nations. She stressed the urgency of addressing imbalances and deficiencies in existing rules, particularly regarding special and differential treatment (SDT), stating, “We see that we are already not in a good place on these big items for developing countries.”
She also urged stakeholders to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their interests within the WTO framework as this would potentially evolve in MC 13, particularly because there’s an interest for the secretariat to claim an outcome on this issue.
Ms. Vahini Naidu, Coordinator of the Trade and Development Programme at the South Centre, highlighted the capacity constraints hindering African countries’ meaningful participation in WTO negotiations. “There are so many overlapping meetings and negotiations,” she remarked, underscoring the challenges faced by African negotiators. This limited capacity not only affects the ability of African nations to articulate their interests effectively but also perpetuates power imbalances within WTO proceedings. Ms. Naidu stressed the urgent need for institutional reforms, stating, “There is a need for institutional reforms to address these disparities and ensure that the voices of developing countries are heard and respected in WTO proceedings.”
She also addressed the pressing issue of agricultural subsidies and food security. She highlighted the African Group’s commitment to safeguarding existing mandates and bodies crucial for addressing food security challenges, stating, “there must be a credible outcome on food security.” Ms. Naidu emphasized the African Group’s insistence on reducing subsidies before engaging in further market access negotiations. “The African Group have maintained that markets are already quite liberalized,” she added.
Ms. Naidu also stressed the importance of preserving food security and livelihoods in artisanal and subsistence fishing communities. Furthermore, she highlighted the African Group’s call for policy space to develop the fishing sector in African coastal states. Ms. Naidu emphasized the need for comprehensive disciplines to address overcapacity and overfishing, stating that the preservation of food security and livelihoods is paramount,” she added explaining that these efforts underscore the African Group’s commitment to sustainable development and equitable trade practices within the WTO framework.
Ms. Jane Nalunga, Executive Director of SEATINI Uganda, in her remarks underscored the importance of mobilization and coordination within African civil society. She expressed gratitude to Ms. Kinda and Ms. Vahini for their informative presentations, acknowledging the support provided by the South Centre in bolstering civil society engagement. Ms. Nalunga emphasized, “our work is really cut out for us. We need to be purposeful in the way we are going to mobilize ourselves.” Reflecting on past vibrant mobilization efforts, she urged renewed commitment towards a unified African civil society stance in WTO negotiations.
Furthermore, Ms. Nalunga highlighted the imperative of synthesizing key issues raised during the webinar and engaging diverse stakeholders, including those working on health, agriculture, gender equality, climate change, and environmental conservation. “We need to agree on Africa’s civil society engagement in the WTO negotiations and mobilize stakeholders at various levels,” she stressed. Ms. Nalunga also emphasized the necessity of developing clear policy positions, stating, “it is very important, especially for people going to Abu Dhabi, to have on their fingertips what our position is and how we are fighting for it.”
Ms. Nalunga also called for closer collaboration between civil society, policymakers, and technocrats at national and regional levels to ensure coherence in advocacy efforts and negotiation strategies. “We need to organize meetings bringing together civil society, members of parliament, policymakers, and technocrats to have a common position,” she noted. Ms. Nalunga underscored the dynamic nature of the negotiation process, urging sustained commitment to advancing African interests in the evolving global trade landscape. She stated, “we need to remember that the ministerial conference is an event, but the process continues. We need to be able to debrief and plan future engagement strategies.”
Over the years, SEATINI has maintained and nurtured partnerships with relevant governmental and intergovernmental agencies and institutions and continues to create platforms for various stakeholders to amplify their voices and engage on pertinent issues. As part of her focus and interventions, SEATINI engages in and shapes policy processes and negotiations across the broader spectrum of trade, fiscal and investment related policy discourse.
During MC13, SEATINI will be holding a session titled; ‘‘The Role of the WTO in addressing Trade Related Climate Policy Tensions’’ at IISD’s Trade and Sustainability Hub.
