By Kim Mi-hui | THE KOREA HERALD
The Korean government will focus on two particular issues, agriculture and antidumping rules, during the fourth World Trade Organization ministerial conference at Doha, Qatar beginning Nov. 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) said.
The focus of the nation's conference agenda was determined during a "Foreign Affairs Economic Policy Planning Meeting" held Saturday, which was hosted by vice Prime Minister Jin Nyum and involved related ministries including the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
"We met and discussed in detail our position on all the topics on our agenda list, such as negotiation strategy for updating built-in agenda in the agricultural and service sectors, antidumping and subsidy issues including subsidizing plans for processed marine products," a MOFAT official said. The government noted that it is clear that regional and protectionist sentiments are currently affecting world trade and that it is crucial that the New Round guidelines are updated to bring greater fairness to international business.
For example, the government agreed that in many member economies, agricultural liberalization encroaches on serious political sensitivities and important non-trade concerns (NTC).
"Accordingly, the launch should not start with a predetermined outcome in mind. The negotiation process itself has to be flexible, as liberalization requires adjustment and reform. Such adjustment and reform should take place over a period of time and at a sustained pace," trade minister Hwang Doo-yun said.
On the antidumping rules, the government noted that the world has witnessed problems since the Uruguay Round as ambiguous and loose rules have allowed continuous anti-dumping action all around the world.
"Its proliferation and ubiquity demonstrate that it has become a convenient tool for protectionists. The abuse of antidumping actions poses a serious threat to global free trade. We need to clarify and improve the WTO anti-dumping rules," Hwang said.
The conference participants are also known to have come to agreements on other key issues like approaches to the service and non-agricultural market, investment policies and transparency in government subsidies.
The Korean government's position will be delivered by Hwang and a 39-member task force comprising Geneva expert Chung Eui-yong, vice minister of agriculture and forestry Kim Dong-keun and representatives of MOFAT, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
(mihui@koreaherald.co.kr)By Kim Mi-hui:
