§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of WTO procedures to meet the need for special and differential treatment for developing countries. [132429]
§ Hilary BennWorld Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements include a large number of special and differential treatment provisions (some 155 in all). However, there is dissatisfaction with the existing362W system of differential treatment by both developed and developing countries alike. A total of 88 proposals have been submitted to amend and modify the existing provisions and to provide for new concessions. The UK has worked hard with the European Commission, and others to assess and meet the concerns of developing countries. Accordingly the WTO membership has now agreed to 25 of these agreement-specific proposals. However, central to the issue concerning special and differential treatment is how to take account of country differences (e.g. Singapore to Ghana) within WTO agreements. Developing countries are reluctant to address the issue of country classification now and only within the wider context of future negotiations. DFID is working with others on possible options to provide an effective delivery mechanism for special and differential treatment.