BUSINESS NEWS
Mpahlwa leads SA to WTO talks
Posted Wed, 28 Jun 2006
Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa will discuss the reduction of developed countries' agricultural subsidies and tariffs at World Trade Organisation talks in Geneva on Thursday. Mpahlwa's department said he would lead the South Africa delegation with the aim of persuading the United States and the European Union to reduce their farming subsidies. Mpahlwa said such reductions would benefit developing countries as it would "level the playing field".
"South Africa's position on the issue is well known. It wants developed nations... to reduce their agricultural subsidies to farmers in their countries... and to reduce tariffs on agricultural products for the benefit of developing countries," he said in a media statement on Tuesday. He said that the WTO needed to take cognisance of the fact that a reduction in agricultural subsidies and tariffs in developed countries need not translate into a reduction of industrial tariffs in developing countries too.
Said Mpahlwa: "The WTO is also involved in continuous negotiations to lower trade barriers and to ensure that the opening of markets gives countries huge potential to develop markets. The organisation provides a fair and transparent dispute resolution mechanism in which size is not important and a small country can take on the Goliaths of the global economy." He also stressed that as a member of the WTO, South Africa was in a position to push its agenda and to "influence its (the WTO's) work programmes and its decisions".
Sapa
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