8 Sep 2003

Forum adviser hopes WTO talks will aid Pacific exports

4:12 pm on 8 September 2003

The Multi-Lateral Trade Adviser at the Forum Secretariat, Jim Gosselin, says Pacific attendees at the World Trade Organisation talks in Mexico will be seeking clarification of special and differential treatment for its exports.

Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are members of the WTO are at the trade talks in Cancun this week.

Mr Gosselin says the nations will be seeking agreement by WTO members to implement measures assisting developing nations.

He says special and differential treatment for smaller nations now needs to be actioned.

"There are various WTO agreements which contain references to special and differential treatment and we would like to see them worked out in some detail so that they favour some developing countries."

Mr Jim Gosselin.