G10 Press Release; Hong Kong, 13 December 2005

G10  Press Release; Hong Kong, 13 December 2005

1.  Ministers of the G10, a group of major food importing WTO Members,
reiterated their determination to expeditiously elaborate mutually
acceptable modalities for further agricultural reform in order to
successfully conclude the DDA in 2006. Therefore, with a view to
achieving this objective and preparing the ground for fully-fledged
modalities, G10 Ministers urge Members to focus their discussions in
Hong Kong on the “structural elements” of the three pillars under
negotiation.

2.  G10 Ministers emphasised that all sensitivities and Non Trade
Concerns shall be taken into account. S&D for developing Members is an
integral part of the negotiations, and the issues concerning
long-standing preferences and recently acceded Members should be
addressed adequately.

3.  G10 Ministers highlighted that it is imperative to put together a
tangible package of results in the development issues at the Hong Kong
Ministerial Conference. Especially, results on issues of particular
interest to LDCs should be implemented as an early harvest. Moreover,
the crucial issues raised by the Cotton Initiative shall be dealt with
substantively with a view to harnessing trade for development.
Ministers also welcomed a proposal on SPs and the SSM recently
submitted by a group of developing countries.

4.  Recalling the various contributions they already submitted to the
negotiations, G10 Ministers agreed on the    following points:

-  In the market access pillar, it is essential to deepen the
discussions on the treatment of sensitive products, special products
(SPs), the Special Safeguard Clause (SSG) and the Special Safeguard
Mechanism (SSM). Having a clearer picture of these elements is,
together with consideration for the flexibility needed to address
different tariff structures, the only way forward to achieve
convergence on the parameters of the Tiered Formula.

-  Parallelism on export competition should be clearly defined in order
to set an end date for the elimination of all forms of export
subsidies.

-  The G10 is willing to engage in constructive discussions in all
three pillars under negotiation and will, in due time, submit new
proposals on outstanding issues which are paramount to advance
negotiations.

5.  Ministers underscored the necessity to ensure the inclusiveness and
transparency of the negotiations. Political ownership of the process
and outcome of the negotiations is a prerequisite to the successful
conclusion of the DDA.

G10: Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Norway,
Switzerland, Chinese Taipei