African Countries Short-changed in WTO Negotiations

For the first time, the 2015 World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference would be held in Africa, in Kenya, in December 2015. WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo stated that the WTO has helped to boost trade growth, resolve trade disputes and support developing countries to integrate into the trading system. But most African countries question that if the multilateral trade negotiations have had any impact on African initiatives then why are trade reforms at the WTO not changing their prospects for the betterment? Why has trade boosted growth in other developing countries but only at minimal benefits in the continent despite its resource endowment? Moreover, the WTO has also failed to clarify the ambiguous rules on concluding trade agreements that allow the poorest countries to be manipulated by the rich states. In Africa, in negotiations with the European Union (EU), countries have been forced to eliminate tariffs up to 90 percent of their trade because no clear rules exist to protect them. Besides, African countries face supply-side constraints that need to be addressed timely, although trade reforms discussed at the WTO meets, tend not to be implemented. The WTO negotiations are usually intricate and unfortunately due to persistent brain drain, most African trade experts work for international organisations and universities abroad. Therefore, they have little influence on the multilateral trading system. Furthermore, agriculture has been adversely affected due to domestic support programmes, export subsidies and export competition propelled by the developed countries in support of their agriculture sectors. The failure of the WTO members to agree to reduce large developed state farmer subsidies is one African Countries Short-changed in WTO Negotiations