WTO, UNCTAD FORM NEW TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP
The WTO and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) agreed on 16 April to establish a framework for technical assistance cooperation. This system will allow for more efficient collaboration between the two organisations. UNCTAD Secretary-General Rubens Ricupero said the strategic partnership will "result in even more effective capacity building for developing countries". According to the memorandum of understanding, the purpose of the strategic partnership is to implement the Doha Development Agenda, serve development goals, and integrate developing and least developed countries into the global economy and the multilateral trading system. A list of activities and goals for the partnership will be created in May and activities will last for twelve months.
"WTO and UNCTAD step up strategic partnership," WTO PRESS RELEASE, 16 April 2003. CHINA, EGYPT NEW ITA MEMBERS
The WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) Committee met on 24 April and approved two new members, China and Egypt. These countries are now the 58th and 59th members of the ITA, which is based on a Ministerial Declaration from the 1996 WTO Singapore Ministerial meeting, and requires participants to completely eliminate duties on IT products. The agreement took effect in 2000, although some developing countries have been granted extensions. Also at the 24 April meeting, Japan proposed that the ITA be extended to cover the "digital appliances sector" (including products such as refrigerators with internet functions, home theatre systems, and audio equipment with MP3 capability). Japan had made this proposal at the negotiating group on market access (see related story, this issue of BRIDGES Weekly). The next meeting of the ITA will take place on 16 July.
ICTSD reporting.