§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans there are to increase African participation in the international standard setting bodies on trade; and if she will make a statement. [116625]
§ Ms HewittThe WTO recognises the particular vulnerability of the least-developed countries, which include African countries, and the special structural difficulties they face in the global economy.
Under the 'Doha Development Agenda', agreed by all WTO members at the fourth WTO ministerial in November 2001, the WTO is committed to addressing the marginalisation of least-developed countries in international trade and improving their effective participation in the multilateral trading system.