ID :
47053
Mon, 02/23/2009 - 12:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/47053
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea must retain 'developing nation' status in DDA farm sector: official
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's must retain its developing nation status
in Doha Development Agenda (DDA) agricultural talks to minimize repercussions to
its weak farm sector, a senior policymaker said Monday.
Agriculture Minister Chang Tae-pyong told World Trade Organization
director-general Pascal Lamy in Seoul that the high proportion of elderly farmers
and relatively small size of individual farms made it imperative that the country
be given protection.
He also pointed out that due to the general lack of competitiveness, South Korea
required greater leeway in terms of holding onto some tariffs and farm subsidies.
The DDA which commenced in November 2001 aims to lower trade barriers on
agriculture, industrial tariffs and non-tariff barriers, services, and improve
trade remedies that can facilitate greater commerce. Talks, however, have made
slow gains over such issues as farm subsidies and level of tariff waivers that
can be given to countries.
South Korea, as a member of DDA's G10 and G33 groups, has insisted from the
outset that it be given developing country status.
The G10 represent net farm importers like South Korea, Japan and Switzerland,
with the G33 dedicated to opposing a sharp reduction in tariffs for sensitive
products.
Chang told Lamy on the sidelines of the Global Korea 2009 conference that any
overall deal must provide special allowances for so-called sensitive products
raised by developing countries.
Talks have so far granted developing countries the right to designate 12 percent
of total goods raised in their country as sensitive products, whose tariff levels
can be lowered at a slower pace, with 40 percent on this list or 5 percent of the
total to be exempt from tariff cuts altogether.
The minister also said the WTO should exercise more flexibility in the fisheries
sector, which requires some degree of state support.
In response, the WTO head said considerable progress has been made to reduce
differences and called on South Korea to provide support to clinch the deal.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
in Doha Development Agenda (DDA) agricultural talks to minimize repercussions to
its weak farm sector, a senior policymaker said Monday.
Agriculture Minister Chang Tae-pyong told World Trade Organization
director-general Pascal Lamy in Seoul that the high proportion of elderly farmers
and relatively small size of individual farms made it imperative that the country
be given protection.
He also pointed out that due to the general lack of competitiveness, South Korea
required greater leeway in terms of holding onto some tariffs and farm subsidies.
The DDA which commenced in November 2001 aims to lower trade barriers on
agriculture, industrial tariffs and non-tariff barriers, services, and improve
trade remedies that can facilitate greater commerce. Talks, however, have made
slow gains over such issues as farm subsidies and level of tariff waivers that
can be given to countries.
South Korea, as a member of DDA's G10 and G33 groups, has insisted from the
outset that it be given developing country status.
The G10 represent net farm importers like South Korea, Japan and Switzerland,
with the G33 dedicated to opposing a sharp reduction in tariffs for sensitive
products.
Chang told Lamy on the sidelines of the Global Korea 2009 conference that any
overall deal must provide special allowances for so-called sensitive products
raised by developing countries.
Talks have so far granted developing countries the right to designate 12 percent
of total goods raised in their country as sensitive products, whose tariff levels
can be lowered at a slower pace, with 40 percent on this list or 5 percent of the
total to be exempt from tariff cuts altogether.
The minister also said the WTO should exercise more flexibility in the fisheries
sector, which requires some degree of state support.
In response, the WTO head said considerable progress has been made to reduce
differences and called on South Korea to provide support to clinch the deal.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
