Press/272
13 February 2002
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ adopts work programme for LDCs
The World Trade Organization's Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries (Download in Word format, 6 pages;68KB) agreed yesterday (12 February 2002) on a work programme for least-developed countries. The work programme, based on instructions from the Doha Ministerial Declaration, will support LDCs' efforts to accelerate their trade development.
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The work program contains seven broad elements:
(1) Market access for LDCs: Trade can be a powerful factor for growth and poverty reduction in LDCs. Improved market access is therefore important and will depend on all °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Members who can give better access;
(2) Trade-related technical assistance and capacity building initiatives for LDCs: The Doha Declaration establishes a firm basis for increased and targeted assistance for LDCs to enable them to participate fully in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ;
(3) Providing, as appropriate, support to agencies assisting with the diversification of LDCs' production and export base: Measures taken within the mandate of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ in support of Agencies assisting to enhance LDCs' trading capacity are needed to address supply constraints and make full use of the improvements in access opportunities;
(4) Mainstreaming, as appropriate, trade-related elements of the LDC-III Programme of Action: Follow-up is needed to take account of the commitments made in May 2001, in Brussels, at the Third UN Conference on LDCs;
(5) Participation of LDCs in the Multilateral Trading System: Work in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ has to be further responsive to the needs and particular constraints faced by the LDCs. Many LDCs are also non-residents or have capacity-constrained missions. Measures taken to increase their participation are therefore important;
(6) Accession of LDCs to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ: Only 30 of the 49 LDCs are currently Members of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ. In the Doha Declaration, Ministers have called for measures to “facilitate and accelerate” LDCs accession to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ. Nine LDCs are currently at various stages of their accession process and work should be focused on supporting these acceding countries; and
(7) Follow-up to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Ministerial Decisions/Declarations: action and follow-up is required to take account of the commitments made in Ministerial Decisions/Declarations.