Agenda For Mainstreaming Trade Agreements into Development

Kiran Nepal

President

Society of Economic Journalists Nepal

World Trade Organisation

Agriculture Sector

• Subsidy:

• Non tariff Barrier:

• TRIPS: – PVP legislation (domestic level ensuring

farmers’ rights)– Strengthening lobby to harmoniseTRIPS-CBD

(multilateral level)

WTO

• NAMA– Duty Free Quota Free Access in Developed

country market (USA). Developed countries agreed to provide market access to 97 percent of tariff line by 2008 (deadline crossed)

– Nepal should lobby to include its major exportable goods such as: garment, Pasmina

– Simplification of Rules of Origin

WTO

• Services– Mode 4 : Easy entry and security to the

unskilled, semi skilled, skilled and high skilled workers in developing and developed countries.

Aid for Trade

• Capacity building of the stakeholders

• Establishment of the equipped lab.

• Custom Reform

• Inland Container depot ( Dry Port)

• Fast Track

• Electricity, Cold Store etc.

Trade Facilitation

• Very Important issue for the Landlocked Least Developed countries like Nepal but How ?

SAFTA

• Complex Rules of Origin

• Long List of Sensitive list

• Lack of Political will

• Non Tariff barriers

• Gap between declaration and Implementation.

• Service sector liberlization

BIMSTEC

• Initial Stage

• BIMSTEC FTA is likely to be more liberal than SAFTA

Indo-Nepal Trade Treaty

• Non-Reciprocal Treatment

• Export Quota ( Vegetable Ghee, Acrylic Yarn, Copper )

• Rules of Origin (30 percent value addition)

• Non Tariff Barriers ( Quarantine )

• Additional Duties imposed by state and central govt.

• Unpredictability.

• India is to provide DFQF to all LDCs

Domestic Issues

• Supply side strengthen

• Inter-Ministerial Coordination

• Formulation of WTO compatible laws

• Institutional Memory ( for example: ‘war room’ in India )

• Position of the New Government

THANK YOU