Afghanistan joins World Trade Organization

And while a deal appeared close in 2008 it was now clear “a comprehensive outcome from the round is no longer in prospect”, he said in Nairobi. “That date of 2017 has gone through, which is completely unacceptable to me…so I would still appeal to delete the date given here”, she said at the concluding session of the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference.

“Subsidised trade has also increased global price volatility, lowered market returns and displaced trade by other export suppliers”, Mr Finlay said.

The Ministerial Declaration which circulated today reflects the division amongst the WTO Membership on the issue of the reaffirmation of the Doha mandate.

According to the declaration, developed nations will eliminate their scheduled farm export subsidies immediately, while developing countries will get rid of theirs from 2018.

India is keeping its “fingers crossed” as the uncertainty continues over the fate of the WTO ministerial meeting, with developed countries taking a hard line on issues of public stockholding and a special safeguard mechanism.

“The decisions taken on Financing for Development, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and most recently, COP21, give us hope that the world community can collectively find solutions to pressing global issues”.

India faced a major setback due to a lack of consensus among WTO countries on reaffirming the Doha Development Agenda- which was its most important demand from this ministerial. “We are thoroughly disappointed on this core”.

This draft is now under discussion by all the members.

Afghanistan has until June 30 to ratify the agreement, the final step before becoming a full member of the organisation that underpins the global system of worldwide trade.

For his part, South African Trade Minister Rob Davies told Anadolu Agency that the acceptance of Liberia and Afghanistan into the WTO will create new employment opportunities for thousands of people.

“There is a very broad issue that members are discussing: how do we conduct trade negotiations in the future”, he said.

“We achieved a package of outcomes which would contribute to development”.

Negotiations were conducted among 53 WTO members, but all 162 WTO members are expected to benefit from the expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA) as they will enjoy duty-free market access to the markets of the members eliminating tariffs on these products.

It also reiterated that the WTO will remain the main forum to negotiate multilateral trade rules.