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LDCs to Boycott WTO Talks If Earlier Decisions not Implemented: Bangladeshi Minister
The least-developed countries (LDCs) would stay out of the next round of World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations if its earlier decisions to be beneficial for the LDCs are not implemented properly, said Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Abdul Jalil while briefing newsmen about the envisaged option of the LDCs here Thursday.
"Some good decisions have been taken by the WTO, but were not materialized yet," he said, adding that as LDC coordinator, Bangladesh would respect the wishes of the underdeveloped countries before joining the WTO ministerial round scheduled for Qatar in November.
The purpose in serving underdeveloped countries was not achieved, and trade in the LDCs squeezed while increasing in the developed countries, the minister noted.
He said if LDCs joined in the next round of WTO, they would not support new decisions unless previous ones were implemented properly. "We can no more believe only the lip-service of the developed countries," Jalil said.
About Bangladesh's duty-and quota-free market access to European Union as EU agreed, the minister hoped to get it finally as it's expected to be adopted in the next EC meeting.
He said Bangladesh had communicated with the EU trade ministers and received positive response from them. He also communicated with the EU trade commissioner, who assured implementation of the decision, he added.
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