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WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) The World Trade organization (WTO), the successor of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) came into existence on 1st January 1995 as a result of the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations. The WTO is responsible for overseeing the trading system which has gradually evolved over the last 50 years. The Organisation also provides a Forum for continuing negotiations to liberalise trade in goods and services through removal of trade barriers and to develop rules in the new trade – related subjects areas e.g Trade Related Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights Agreement etc. The WTO has common Disputes settlement mechanism through which members enforce their rights and settle the differences that arise between them in the course of the implementation of the agreed upon Agreements. Kenya is a founder member of WTO and is bound by all trade agreements in goods, services and intellectual property rights. The WTO avails market opportunities through rounds of trade negotiations. The current on going trade negotiations, Doha Development Agenda (DDA) was launched on 14th November 2001 in Doha, Qatar. The current issues being negotiated under the Doha Work Programme include:- § Agriculture § Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) § Trade in Services § Trade Facilitation § Clarification of WTO rules § Trade and Environment § Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) § Development Issues. Kenya’s interests in the negotiations are:- § Improved market access for primary and processed products. § Rules for special products aimed at addressing kenya’s concerns with respect to food security, rural development and livelihood. § Effective Special and Differential Treatment on all commitments. § A credible end date for elimination of exposed subsidies and Substantial reduction in Domestic support with the necessary flexibility for developing countries like Kenya. § The need to limit the negative impact of preference erosion as a result of tariff reductions. § The need for policy space and flexibility necessary in addressing its developmental, financial and industrial products. § Substantial improvement in market access in modes and sectors of export interest to Kenya particulary modes 1 (cross boarder supply of services) and 4(movement of natural persons to supply services) § The need to address expeditiously development issues of concern to developing countries i.e. implementation issues and concerns and the special and differential treatment provisions. CONCLUSION Kenya is committed to the multilateral Trading System (MTS) and to the successful conclusion of the Doha Round. However, the outcome of the negotiations should take into account the development component of the negotiations e.g. special safeguard mechanism (SSM), cotton, preferences in Agriculture and NAMA, sectoral initiative in NAMA and Special Differential Treatment for Developing countries
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