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World Trade negotiation not progressing well – Dr Fee

World Trade negotiation not progressing well – Dr Fee
By Mutale Kapekele
Mon 14 June 2010, 12:20 CAT

WORLD trade negotiations are not going well despite calls that they should be concluded this year, European Union head of delegation in Zambia Dr Derik Fee has observed.

In an interview on Saturday, Dr Fee said it looked unlikely that the current round of negotiations would be completed this year.

The current round of negotiations started in 2005 but has failed to reach a conclusion owing to issues of concern raised by Low income Developing Countries (LDCs), a group that Zambia heads at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The LDCs have argued that agricultural subsidies in developed countries have made those markets uncompetitive for exports from countries that did not offer subsidies to farmers.

Dr Fee said trade was the solution to speeding up Africa’s development and urged Zambia to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement if she was to benefit from world trade.

“Zambia and the Comoros have not yet signed the EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) which is not a good thing,” Dr Fee said. “It is sad that Africa missed the trade boat in the 1980’s at the time when most of Asia came aboard, look at their success now. But it’s not too late; Africa can still get in the boat and accelerate its development by joining the global trade system. This is your (Africa) future.”

And Dr Fee has said international calls from Zambia were too expensive and urged the government to address the matter.

He said he had previously talked to late President Levy Mwanawasa on liberalizing the international gateway as a way of reducing the cost of international calls.

Labels: DEREK FEE, WTO

posted by MrK @ 3:51 PM