Welcoming the Geneva accord, he said that the developing nations are now in an advantageous position to press further to negotiate on lowering barriers to international commerce, particularly the tariff barriers, and enhanced market access to rich consumer markets of developed countries.
Contradicting the apprehensions of extension in textile quotas, Ahmad said that vested interests were desperately manoeuvring to boost sagging quota premiums by inspiring false hopes through planted news items at regular intervals. He said that the stand taken by Pakistan govt in this matter was crystal clear and there was no reason to believe that textile quota regime would be extended beyond 2004.
He said that in his recent speech on Trade Policy 2004-05, the Commerce Minister had announced that "all quotas for textile exports would be phased out from January 1, 2005, and that elimination of quota had long been standing objective of Pakistan "because we enjoy comparative advantage in this sector". He further said that this policy statement and reiteration of Pakistan's official position had been approved by the Federal govt.
The Apcea chief said that less developed countries (LDCs) would be in an advantageous position because of duty-free access given to them, particularly in EU's new GSP guidance for 2006-15 further extends this facility for LDCs by including 'every thing but arms'. Accordingly, the LDCs would not be at any major disadvantage due to elimination of quotas, he added.
Ahmad said that both USA and EU governments have specifically and officially intimated to the WTO administration that they would not extend textile quotas beyond the deadline of December 31, 2004. In view of these clear-cut positions taken by the two major quota importing areas there was no basis for assuming further extension of quotas, he said. Manipulated and planted news reports by vested elements intermittently would do harm to export trade and damage the climate of confidence and enthusiasm generated by prospects of bright chances of boosting textile exports in post-quota regime, he said.
The Apcea chief was highly appreciative of the important role played by Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar, Tasneem Noorani, Secretary, Commerce, and officials of commerce ministry for taking bold stand at Geneva and sticking to their guns to the last to bring victory out of the jaws of the hardened negotiators of the developed countries of the World who were enjoying domineering position in world trade and were dictating their terms.