Kenya hopes for successful outcome of WTO conference

Kenya has appealed for international support to help realize the success for the 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which will kick off Tuesday in Nairobi.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said Africa has big hopes for issues that touch on areas of agriculture and development.

"For instance, we hope for good results on measures of export compensation for agriculture as well as measures that boosts the least developed countries capacity to trade," Mohamed said in an opinion Monday on a local daily.

She said liberalization of global trade and opening up agricultural markets for African produce top the agenda for Kenya and Africa at WTO conference which is being held in the continent for the first time.

Agriculture remains one of the most highly protected areas of international trade as tariffs average around four percent for industrial goods but 62 percent for agricultural products, according to the WTO.

Governments, particularly in rich countries, continue to subsidize domestic farmers favouring domestic production and exports over imports from abroad.

Mohamed said key issues will be to review the package for the Least Developed Countries, largely focusing on reducing high tariffs that make trade in agriculture expensive.

"It has been a year of give and take as more than 160 member countries weighed in on diverse trade issues, asking what will work best for different members and for the world. It hasn't been easy. There is still a lot of ground to be covered in the coming week," she said.

"But I am glad to note that we have kept an unequivocal focus on making sure that trade plays a powerful role as an instrument of growth in the world," added the CS.

African countries are seeking to address the issue of agricultural subsidies, "anti-dumping" barriers by rich countries like the U.S, Japan and Korea that restrict exports of agricultural products, steel and other goods from developing countries, and the failure of the rich countries to provide adequate technical assistance to enable developing countries to comply with trade regulations and compete effectively.

Mohamed said the East African nation will be leading the African continent in negotiating for better international tariffs, removal of trade barriers and new multinational trade systems to create markets for Africa.

"Having the meeting here underlines that Africa has come of age. The tremendous growth the continent has registered in the last decade has shown that we are truly ready for business," she said.

The Dec. 15-18 conference, which is expected to attract 5,000 delegates from 162 member states, will also showcase the dynamic development that is taking place in Africa.

The meeting is also seen as crucial step towards the conclusion of trade talks that have been ongoing on since 2001 under what is officially referred to as the "Doha Round".

Mohamed, who will chair the conference, said a successful outcome of the MC10 Nairobi 2015 should include a work program that is realistic, balanced and that also modernizes the WTO negotiating agenda.

"We have faith in the work that has been done throughout the year and hope that delegates will have the courage to agree and deliver on diverse issues that will have major ramifications for global trade," she said. Enditem