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See also:
>
Benin — Press release:
Commitment to reforms and further integration
in the world economy raises hopes for poverty reduction prospects
> Burkina Faso —
Press release: Trade liberalization and reforms have improved
economic performance but they must continue
> Mali — Press
release: Trade liberalization and commitment to reforms
have helped to enhance the economic environment
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This second Trade Policy Review of Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali has
allowed us all a far better understanding of recent developments in
their trade and related policies and in the challenges they face. Our
dialogue has been thorough and comprehensive, stimulated by the full
and open engagement of the high-level delegations, the insightful
comments by the discussant, and the many interventions by Members.
Members commended Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali for their concerted
efforts at macroeconomic stabilization and for their structural
reforms in the period under review. They noted that sustainable
development and poverty alleviation remained a challenge, as did
elements of governance and certain structural disadvantages. In this
light Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali were encouraged to move ahead with
their reform programmes, including privatization, and market and
product diversification.
Members were appreciative of the efforts by Benin, Burkina Faso and
Mali to simplify their tariff structure, with the implementation of
the WAEMU common external tariff reducing unilaterally the average MFN
tariff of two of the three Members under review. Benin, Burkina Faso
and Mali confirmed their commitment to the multilateral system and the
WTO. Some Members suggested that the countries under review should
seek to narrow the gap between their bound and applied rates. Members
also noted the use of additional border levies and charges as well as
the use by Burkina Faso and Mali of WAEMU-agreed administered prices
for customs valuation purposes, and progress made recently on this
matter.
Members emphasized trade as a tool for development and underlined the
importance of the Integrated Framework and other co-operation
initiatives. Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali did not benefit fully from
their WTO Membership as their own resource constraints did not always
allow them to identify and/or exploit opportunities. Several Members
indicated that despite their direct or indirect contribution in
providing technical assistance to, and promoting trade with the
Members under review, the progress in their integration into the
multilateral trading system had been slow. Many Members underlined
their commitment to continue providing trade-related technical
assistance to Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali.
Members noted the dependence of Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali on cotton
and other agriculture commodities. They raised several questions in
this respect while recalling recent cotton-related developments in the
WTO; some expressed their support for the gradual elimination of the
cotton-support practices of certain developed countries.
Members sought further clarification on:
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Investment incentives;
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inter-regional integration process;
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re-negotiation of tariff bindings;
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anti-dumping regulations and competition policy;
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technical barriers to trade;
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state-trading enterprises;
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government procurement practices and prospects;
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intellectual property rights;
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issues in financial, telecoms, energy, transport and tourism services.
Members appreciated the replies provided by the delegations of Benin,
Burkina Faso and Mali, and looked forward to further responses and
clarifications.
In conclusion, I believe that through this Review we have come to a
fuller and better appreciation of the progress made by Benin, Burkina
Faso and Mali since their first reviews, and of the development
challenges that lie ahead. The impressive participation by delegations
in this meeting, the number of questions posed, and the active
discussion, indicate the importance attached to this Trade Policy
Review. I encourage Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali to pursue the
implementation of their reform programmes, with a view to enhancing
the transparency, predictability, and credibility of their trade
regimes, and adherence to the WTO principles. But let me put this into
context. Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali face real resource constraints:
technical assistance is required from the WTO and other relevant
organizations; the needs have been well identified in the Secretariat
reports and we should endeavour to meet them. In addition, trading
partners can help by ensuring that their markets are open to products
from Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali and by further exploring
opportunities to assist them in fulfilling their development
objectives.
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