Push for good deal at WTO, Kituyi tells African ministers

UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi has asked African ministers to push for a better deal during a global trade conference.

Dr Kituyi said African ministers should not settle for less but press for a good deal that will address both export and domestic support during the 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that opens tomorrow in Nairobi.

Talks are expected to unlock a stalemate on reforming international trading systems by lowering restrictions and revising trade rules.

As the ministers converge to deliberate on the stalled talks dubbed the Doha Round, which have been dragging since 2001, Kituyi, Kenya’s former Trade minister, criticised Europe and America for the delays over demands that the negotiations are supposed to make rules that benefit the trade in the poorest countries.

Push agenda

Though Kituyi addressed himself on the upcoming talks, he was quick to clarify that he is in Kenya not as a negotiator but to engage stakeholders on the sidelines.

“I am not here not as a negotiator, that’s for the ministers, but I am here to allow for different public discourse around development by holding sidelines talks,” he said, affirming that the main meeting will be closed-door.

He also announced the planned launch of the World Innovation Report in Nairobi.

He appealed to African ministers to take a firm stand in pushing their agenda.

“African ministers should identify what is important for Africa and push their agenda collectively. This should be above the export support, they should not be contented with the least,” he said.

He nevertheless recognised Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed’s role in rallying global ministers to speak as one.

He, however, criticised the way the continent has been presenting its issues at the fora.

“Africa has been asking for removal of export and domestic support, without sufficient movement on domestic support in the European market. Subsidies in the rich countries, if not addressed, will create little impetus for export of Africa’s agricultural produce,” he explained.

He advised the participating ministers that “Africa should be engaged in rules=making in agriculture and trade”.

Kituyi stated that there can never be totally balanced trade for Africa.

“However, there are key interests that should be looked into, dependent on the bonds market by developing nations, especially in the past two years,” he said.

Kituyi further stressed the importance of agriculture in the trade talks, adding that it will continue being significant for Kenya and Africa.