Declaration on Trade

 
We, the Leaders of the Group of Five (Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) having met in L’Aquila, Italy on July 8, 2009, have decided to issue the following Declaration on Trade: 

1. We are concerned with the present state of the world economy, which submits the developing countries to an inordinate burden resulting from a crisis they did not initiate. We are convinced that the successful conclusion of the Doha Round on the basis of its development mandate will provide a major stimulus to the restoration of confidence in world markets and inhibit emerging protectionist trends which are particularly damaging to developing countries. 

2. We also believe that a strengthened multilateral trading system must play a role in promoting development and reducing poverty. The full integration of developing countries in world trade requires a fair, equitable and development-friendly multilateral trading system. The Doha Development Round must deliver real and improved market access to developing country products and services and also ensure meaningful results where the greatest distortions lie, eliminating export subsidies and bringing down the massive trade-distorting subsidies in developed countries. The objective must be to ensure that the rules-based multilateral trading system is fair, equitable and addresses the legitimate aspirations of the developing countries. 

3. We need to conclude this final stage of negotiations. The only way to achieve this in the foreseeable future is by upholding the mandates negotiated over the last seven years. The conclusion of the modalities in agriculture and non-agricultural market access (NAMA) continues to be a necessary step in the negotiations. The December 2008 draft Agriculture and NAMA texts must be completed in line with the development mandate and their overall balance must be preserved, as they offer the only prospect for a timely conclusion of the Round. There is no scope for selectively reopening issues; any changes in one negotiating area will require adjustments elsewhere to preserve the balance and proportionality of the outcome. 

4. The time has come to intensify dialogue among WTO Members with a view to finding solutions to the remaining negotiating gaps. The contribution that our countries are making in this Round is unprecedented and all Members must be prepared to do the same, especially the developed ones. We are ready to engage with all WTO Members with a view to completing the modalities and addressing any outstanding problems, within the context of a transparent and inclusive multilateral process. 

After consultations, Egypt has associated itself with this Declaration.