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Le GATT et le Conseil du commerce des marchandises

L'Accord général sur les tarifs douaniers et le commerce (GATT) régit le commerce international des marchandises. C'est le Conseil du commerce des marchandises, composé de représentants de tous les pays Membres de l'OMC, qui veille au fonctionnement du GATT. Le Président est actuellement S.E. Mme Karen TAN (Singapour).

Le Conseil du commerce des marchandises chapeaute diz comités qui s'occupent chacun d'un sujet précis (agriculture, accès aux marchés, subventions, mesures antidumping, etc.). Ces comités sont eux aussi composés de représentants de tous les pays membres.

Le Conseil du commerce des marchandises coiffe également le Groupe de travail des entreprises commerciales d'État et le Comité de l'Accord sur les technologies de l'information (ATI).

12 mai 2009

CONSEIL DU COMMERCE DES MARCHANDISES

Le Conseil du commerce des marchandises proroge une dérogation pour les pays les plus pauvres

Le Conseil du commerce des marchandises a approuvé, le 12 mai 2009, une prorogation pour une période de dix ans d’une dérogation de l’OMC autorisant les pays en développement à accorder un traitement tarifaire préférentiel aux produits des pays les moins avancés (PMA) sans être tenus d’accorder le même traitement tarifaire aux autres Membres de l’OMC. La décision va maintenant être soumise au Conseil général pour adoption.

Brazil, China, India and Korea proposed the extension of the waiver, which was set to expire on 30 June 2009.

India, speaking on behalf of the sponsors of the proposal, said that “over the last few years developing countries have been finding means within their own developmental imperatives to meet the requirements of the LDCs and grant them meaningful concessions...given the right environment and enabling provisions the developing countries can be encouraged to enhance their efforts.”

Tanzania said the LDC Group had been “very much inspired by the goodwill shown by the membership in approving the extension.”

The Council also approved one-year extensions, respectively, to waivers granted to Argentina and Panama in connection with the introduction of Harmonized System 1996 changes into WTO schedules of tariff concessions. These draft decisions have also been forwarded to the General Council.

On a related matter, the Council approved a decision on procedures leading to the verification and certification of Harmonized System 1996 changes the WTO Secretariat had undertaken to tariff schedules of 64 developing-country members. This decision also goes to the General Council for adoption.

The Council noted the recent notification of two free-trade agreements: between Costa Rica and Panama, and between China and New Zealand.

Turkey presented an updated version of its compilation of recent research of main trends after the phase-out of quantitative restrictions in the textiles sector. The paper proposed that the WTO take a coordinating role in overcoming economic difficulties encountered by developing countries in the post-quota period. Turkey suggested a detailed discussion of the paper at the next meeting.

Jordan, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Mauritius and Morocco expressed support for Turkey's paper. Korea said that any trade-related matter can be discussed by the Council.

China, Pakistan, India, Korea and Hong Kong, China expressed concern that the paper might be aimed at reversing trade liberalization, and stressed that it would never enjoy consensus in the Council.

The chair, Amb. Elin Østebø Johansen (Norway), said that it was clear members were far from an agreement on this issue, with some wanting it to remain on the agenda and some others wanting to take it off the agenda. She urged interested delegations to meet among themselves to find a way forward. The Council agreed to revert to this item at the next meeting (29 June 2009), but that if the discussions remained inconclusive, this agenda item would be suspended.

OMC