Tanzania Report, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania - ILEAP

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CHAPTER IV6.0 FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS6.1 MINISTERS RESPONSE TO WORKSHOP DELIBERATIONS.Apart from delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Industry and Trade participated in theproceedings on the first day. In this regard, he offered the following responses to issues of concern raisedby discussants, concerning the conduct of negotiations on international trade and approaches adopted byTanzania. He commended and thanked the organizers and participants for the initiative and proactiveparticipation in the workshop. Emphasized the need to continue to build national consensus in terms ofunderstanding what is at stake and drawing up national strategies as our representatives prepare for theCancun Ministerial. There is need to build on the public and private partnership to handling thenegotiations at the national level as the basis for consensus building at the international level as we moveforward on the WTO agreements. More specific responses to issues of concern included:• Regarding the handling of potential conflict in position of different groups to which Tanzania is amember e.g. EAC, SADC, LDCs, AU and ACP, the Minister acknowledged that these groups dohave minor differences. However, in principles the fundamentals underpinning their position inthe negotiations remain the same as the different groups basically have to address the fundamentalcommon problem of poverty at the national level. Experience emerging from the last two WTOMinisterials (Singapore and Doha) have proven the common strength of the three groups that isembedded in a common united front. The same situation is emerging with respect to the issuesthat are of paramount importance in Cancun;• A typical example is the case of India and Brazil, the countries that are currently manufacturinggeneric drugs that can be sold at cheap prices to LDCs without manufacturing capacity are underintense pressure to limit their compulsory licensing. Clearly the benefit of the LDCs and otherDeveloping nations lies in supporting these two countries. Consequently although the developingcountries differ so much, there are common interests that bind them together on the issue of TRIPsand public health. Divided the developing countries will succumb to the enormous pressuresemerging from US multinationals against measures for effective implementation of thecompulsory licensing clauses in TRIPS. The objectives of Developing countries focus onimproving human health and life while that of developed countries interests lies in higher profitsand these are the fundamental differences on which the negotiations should focus; and• On Singapore issues – we will discuss them in Cancun subject to having explicit consensus on themodalities on each of the Singapore issues which has not been possible to achieve in Geneva. Weneed first to clarify the Singapore issues – what are the implications of these agreements if theyfall under the WTO framework and what larqe the benefits to developing countries. Thedeveloping countries also need more time to study the issues and their implications hence the callto continue with the preparations in the Working Groups.Finally, the Minister commended the approach of bringing together experts from different disciplines andinstitutions to consider the issues involved in the WTO negotiations and the need to continue theseinitiatives. The experts “know the issues but do not have the details that are available in Government hencethe importance of working together”. MIT is open minded to receive all ideas and inputs that can improveon Tanzania’s efforts in the Cancun ministerial and other meetings of a similar nature.6.2 CHAIRMAN’S SUMMARY AND CLOSING REMARKS.The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Trade, who chaired the plenary discussion summed upthe proceedings and views emerging from the discussions highlighting on the following issues:"Deliberations on WTO Pre-Cancun Sensatization Workshop" 31
• Noted the comment concerning more inputs from the Government concerning ongoingdevelopments on Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva and the issue of how the approachesto negotiations could be taken up. In this regard, the Ministry normally works with other countriestowards a common position in various groups i.e. SADC, LDC and AU ACP through MinisterialMeetings which produces declarations that are used as the basic negotiation positions. In additionthe three groups also coordinate their positions to arrive at a complimentary stance that leads to acommon position in the negotiations. The Permanent Secretary promised that Ministry wouldcirculate the Declarations made by these groups for participants information. The Tanzanianposition is reflected in these declarations;• The Ministry distributed copies of the Dhaka, Lusaka, Mauritius and Brussels declarations to par.Also avail participants the draft Cancun Declaration which is already available and subject tonegotiations;• Concerning the Ministers comments on membership in multiple institutions the PermanentSecretary confirmed that the Ministry has experienced no problem in forming positions at theregional level such as SADC and linking this position with consensus at the wider level such asthe AU, LDCs and ACP groups. This is on account of the similarity of our problems relative toissues such as agricultural market access and on TRIPS and public health. We may differ onlanguage, culture and specific priorities but the core concerns remain the same. Further for thedeveloping countries unity remains the only weapon with which to face the position of powerfuleconomic nations such as the US, EU and Japan;• Noted further that even the more advanced developing countries in Africa such as South Africaand Egypt do support the moulding of an AU position which reflects the concerns of the LDCsgroup given that 35 of all LDCs are Sub Saharan African countries.• Reiterated the fact that even though negotiations are conducted through consensus amongst blocksof countries and interest groups until a common position is arrived at that accommodates allmembers, the Ministry is aware of the fact that implementation is a matter of primary individualnational concern and Tanzania is already working on initiatives to reform our institutionalstructures to create a responsive framework corresponding to the demand of the situation and buildthe capacity to implement the agreements adequately. There is recognition of the need for astructure to facilitate the coordination aspect. In this regard, a WTO National Committee has beenestablished and the issue on hand is to enhance its capacity. The Ministry has also appointed aspecific Committee, chaired by the Minister in person, to follow up on the issue of implementationrelative to market access opportunities such as AGOA;• Acknowledged the need to enhance research capacity and to link this with the public and privatesector stakeholders as the primary users of the findings and recommendations or output ofresearch. Commended the performance of institutions like ESRF and the Economic ResearchBureau of the University of Dar es Salaam and noted the need for adopting a more coordinatedapproach on research work so as to focus on the issues of priority importance to the nation;• With respect to capacity building and technical assistance, the Chairman also noted that Tanzania,as an LDC, has the right to enjoy special and differential conditions provided for in the WTOagreements as an interim measure while building the requisite capacity. Noted that it is importantto build capacity and participate in negotiations for market access with the EU although at presentTanzania benefits from the EBA scheme for LDCs because the preferences given to LDCs will notprevail for ever;• In conclusion, the Chairman reiterated the need to utilize the high capacities in our institutions oflearning and continue to forge alliances at regional level: SADC, AU, LDCs and ACP. No onewill listen to Tanzania in the WTO – but they have to listen to the regions. All those declarationsultimately amount to a common position that can be put on the table. How do you negotiate withan economically powerful country as the US whose GDP is twice that of Africa – if Africa doesnot negotiate as one entity? He emphatically concluded is summing up.6.3 SUMMING UP OF GROUP DISCUSSIONSProfessor Samuel M. Wangwe, chaired the plenary discussions that received the reports from the groupsdiscussions. His summary of the recommendations emerging from the groups include the following:"Deliberations on WTO Pre-Cancun Sensatization Workshop" 32
Page 1: THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA(MIN
Page 4 and 5: ABBREVIATIONSWTO - World Trade Orde
Page 6 and 7: TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)"The overal
Page 9 and 10: • The WTO has a wider coverage th
Page 12 and 13: meetings remains weak. There is a p
Page 14 and 15: Finally, the paper reviews the inst
Page 16 and 17: on research capacity and training f
Page 18 and 19: • Services provided through movem
Page 20 and 21: (b)(c)State of Preparations: The De
Page 22 and 23: ‣ Widening gap between developed
Page 24 and 25: (a) Situation AnalysisThe issue of
Page 26 and 27: It was further noted that initiativ
Page 28 and 29: • Situation analysis: Tanzanian u
Page 30 and 31: Cross-cutting issues include issues
Page 34 and 35: • It is important to develop a na
Page 36 and 37: ANNEXTURESMINISTER SPEECHRESOURCE P
Page 38 and 39: Officer27. W. Bronkhorst Head Econo
Page 40: Arusha29. Marie Shaba Chairperson T

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