Participants at a high-level seminar on how provisions for Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) in the Doha Round could benefit development, called for more flexibility for developing countries.

Convened jointly with the International Centre for Trade and Development the meeting brought together senior trade figures in national Governments, trade negotiators in Geneva and representatives of civil society to flesh out opportunities ahead of the Cancun Ministerial summit. The dialogue also featured presentations and research from prominent trade specialists Professor Ajit Singh and Dr. Christopher Stevens.

During the event participants agreed that S&D was a tool for development, compensating to some extent for the difficulties faced by poorer countries in the multilateral trading system. The link was also made between Special and Differential Treatment and preserving domestic policy space; a crucial issue since it was agreed that furthering trade liberalization needed to be complemented by appropriate policies if development were to occur successfully.

A range of views were heard on whether the asymmetries that would be promulgated by S&D might harm the WTO. On the one hand, a multi-speed system was seen as a threat to multilateral trade. On the other hand, most agreed that flexibility was the only option for low-income countries to become efficiently engaged with the WTO and for the Doha Development Round to live up to its name.

It was agreed that a further dialogue be held to examine Special and Differential Treatment in the context of supply-side reforms being undertaken as part of their trade liberalization by many developing countries.

For further information please visit the dialogue page

Or email werner.corrales-leal@unctad.org

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