UAE stresses importance of multilateral trading system

Abdullah Al Saleh, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry Affairs, has highlighted the UAE’s view that the multilateral trading system has played, and still plays, an important role in opening borders to facilitate international trade and investment, as part of a system based on its rules.

During the UAE’s speech that he gave yesterday at the 11th Ministerial Conference, MC11, of the World Trade Organisation WTO, held in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, from 10th to 13th December, he added that this system should provide a trusted and solid mechanism to settle trading disputes while stressing the country’s commitment to the WTO.

He explained that all efforts must continue to place a development dimension to the core programme for negotiations while pointing out that without this dimension, the WTO will not be able to realise many goals enlisted on its agenda.

Al Saleh noted that MC11 must become a platform to preserve the momentum of the WTO’s current successes while providing a realistic forum to agree on the topics discussed during the conference.

With regard to the UAE’s position on certain issues, Al Saleh said that the UAE supports securing reserves of food supplies and widening the scope of the "Bali Package" to include all developing countries in the WTO while clarifying that this position will promote wider discussions on related policies and guarantee that the programme will not undermine local support specialties.

As for export restrictions, he stressed that the UAE calls for greater transparency in the area of agricultural export limits and restrictions.

Regarding fisheries, Al Saleh affirmed the need to provide a political space for developing countries to develop their fisheries sector and promote sustainable fishing.

With regard to the "Non-Agricultural Market Access, NAMA," negotiations, he mentioned that in the country’s view, the conference must produce a realistic agreement, to place a work programme to continue further related reforms.

Regarding the services sector, Al Saleh clarified the UAE’s position that the level of trade liberalisation in this sector must be decided by individual governments, according to the appropriate level of development of their countries.

Regarding the negotiations on internal systems, he highlighted the country’s view that developing member countries must retain their right to establish a system that complies with the goals of their development policies.

The UAE is optimistic about the opportunities to advance the negotiations on related regulations, with regard to facilitating trade in the services sector, he said.

Regarding electronic trade and facilitating investments, Al Saleh believed that the UAE cannot currently enter relevant discussions or negotiations, but priority must be given to specify the topics and issues that should be covered. The UAE supports the widening of the range of current policies on electronic trade, including waiving customs fees on electronic conversions, he said in conclusion.