MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES

Conflict and Fragile Economies Group Speak Up in WTO

Just hours before the opening of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) in Buenos Aires, WTO members launched the g7+ WTO Accessions Group, a new platform designed to help post-conflict and fragile economies through WTO membership. The Chair of MC11, Minister Susana Malcorra of Argentina, presided over the launch, which included the participation of the Ministers of Commerce of Afghanistan, Liberia, Somalia, Timor-Leste and Yemen, as well as ambassadors from Comoros, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.

The g7+ WTO Accessions Group will aim to facilitate the integration of post-conflict and fragile economies into the multilateral trading system through WTO accession-related reforms, including the establishment of credible economic and trade policy frameworks and institutions, and the promotion of transparency and good governance, based on international best practices. It also aims to support the efforts of the WTO acceding governments in the Group, including through information and experience sharing.

The g7+ WTO Accessions Group is a sub-group of the larger g7+ group, which is an association of 20 fragile and conflict-affected states. Its motto is “Nothing about us without us" and it was formed in 2010 in response to the gaps identified by conflict-affected states in the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Advancing to the next development stage in order to forge pathways out of fragility and conflict, and enabling peer learning on how to achieve resilience and support between member countries are its main objectives.

In her opening remarks at the launch, Ms Malcorra said: "The WTO is probably the most democratic institution within the United Nations architecture. It is an institution that belongs to all of us and where all of us define rules and the way we want to work together in the international trade arena. Your decision to access or to apply for accession to the WTO proves that, as much as the system is perfectible, it is worth being part of it. It also proves that the future of the system is going to be bigger, broader, and even more democratic. It means that you clearly understand that this opportunity around trade will make a difference for your people," she added.

WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff moderated the session. He said that "conflict or post-conflict status is not the usual topic for WTO members, not even at Ministerial Conferences. However, the pursuing by these countries of WTO membership despite the challenges reminds us of the critical contribution of the multilateral trading system to the peace and stability of nations . The commitment shown by the g7+ countries with WTO accession reconfirms the attraction and strength of the system whose principles and values continue to serve as a suitable foundation for national economies, regardless of level of development, policy orientation or size."

Twelve of the g7+ group are original WTO members: Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands and Togo. Currently, Sierra Leone is the coordinator of the group. Three  are recently acceded members (Afghanistan, Liberia, Yemen), four are acceding least-developed countries (Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Timor-Leste) and one is a non-observer who has submitted an application for WTO accession to the 11th Ministerial Conference (South Sudan).

Afghanistan and Liberia acceded to the WTO in July 2016, and Yemen acceded to the WTO in June 2014. Comoros has been in the process of accession to the WTO since October 2007, Sao Tome and Principe since May 2005, and Somalia and Timor-Leste started their accession processes in December 2016.

Mr Humayoon Rasaw, Minister of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan, underlined that "the purpose of establishing the g7+ WTO Accessions Group is not seeking to launch new negotiations or to replace existing groups or committees". Rather, "it aims at better structuring and strengthening our work to facilitate the integration of post-conflict and fragile economies into the multilateral trading system through WTO accessions and to support the efforts of WTO governments, including through information and experience sharing," he said.

Speaking about the challenges that arise after WTO accession, Mr Axel Addy, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Liberia, stressed that technical support coordination and experience sharing are crucial elements of the accession process, especially in the first stages: "If you think that accession is difficult, post-accession implementation is just as difficult. The lesson we have learned and can share with others is that you have to be open to learn and reach out for help. There is a lot of goodwill out there that is willing to help us. Even after accession, member states continue to lend us their technical expertise, including members of the LDC group. Having access to this network to navigate the accession process is very critical," he said.