Compliance with G8 Commitments:
Ascertaining the Degree of Compliance with Summit Debt and International Trade Commitments for Canada and the United States, 1996-1999
Diana Juricevic, G8 Research Group, 2000
APPENDIX
Summary: Identifying Commitments: International Trade and Debt Relief
1996
International Trade
G8 Communiqué Lyon 1996
Credibility of Multilateral Trading System – "We reaffirm our commitment to working to strengthen the confidence in and credibility of the multilateral trading system by avoiding taking trade and investment measures that would be in contradiction with WTO rules and OECD codes, and by using and complying with any applicable provisions for consultation and dispute settlement when differences arise."
LDC Integration in Global Trading System – "We recognize the importance of the integration of developing countries in the global trading system as an essential element of sustainable growth and development. We have agreed on ways to help developing countries, especially the least developed, to benefit more fully from the results of the Uruguay Round."
Monitoring Uruguay Round Commitments – "We will continue to monitor the strict implementation of commitments and precise compliance with timetables agreed at the end of the Uruguay Round."
WTO membership – "In accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization and on the basis of significant liberalization commitments, we support the accession of new members to the WTO."
Benefits of Uruguay Round on developing countries – "We have agreed on ways to help developing countries, especially the least developed, to benefit more fully from the results of the Uruguay Round."
Implementation of Uruguay Round – "We will ensure full and effective implementation of the Uruguay Round results according to the agreed timetables. We are resolved to complete all ongoing negotiations in the service sector and to re-launch talks in Singapore on financial services so as to reach significant balanced and non-discriminatory liberalization commitments by December 1997."
Broadening WTO agenda – "We invite the WTO Ministerial Conference to broaden its agenda to include topics of special importance for trade and investment liberalization by: beginning an examination of trade and investment in the WTO and work towards a consensus which might include the possibility of negotiations; discussing the interaction between trade and competition policy with a view to determining how to proceed; exploring possible new industrial tariff initiatives in sectors to be agreed by consensus.
Freer Access to Markets – "We also believe that there is more to be done in areas where other obstacles still seriously impede freer access to markets, in particular: by encouraging more convergence between national standards and international norms, by further regulatory reform and by mutual recognition of procedures for testing and for certification; by enhancing the disciplines of and expanding the number of countries subscribing to the Agreement on government Procurement and, in furtherance of this goal, by developing an interim arrangement on transparency, openness and due process in government procurement practices; by effectively enforcing and further developing intellectual property disciplines.
Customs Procedures – "In order to facilitate the free flow of trade, we will initiate an effort to further standardize and simplify customs procedures among our countries."
Financing ESAF – "We are committed to a continuing Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) as the centrepiece of the International Monetary Fund support for the poorest countries…we will examine constructively and positively the options for financing the needed subsidies, using primarily resources held by the IMF, without excluding bilateral contributions."
Naples Terms "Following the proposals developed by the Bretton Woods Institutions, we look forward to a concrete solution being agreed by next Autumn at the latest on the following basis:
The solution should provide an exit for unsustainable debt and be based on a case-by-case approach adapted to the specific situation of each country concerned, once it has shown its commitment to pursuing its economic adjustment.
The continuation of ESAF will provide the basis for a reduction in the burden of debt to the IMF for these countries
…we will support and work together for an overall World Bank contribution of the order of 2 billion $ for this initiative
…we urge the Paris Club creditor countries, where they deem appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, to go beyond the Naples terms for these countries. These efforts would include, on a voluntary basis, debt conversion schemes up to 20% instead of currently 10% of the stock of debts, and increased debt alleviation. In parallel, and on the basis of the same assessment, all other bilateral creditors are encouraged to make their own contributions to these countries in terms comparable."
Quality and Access to Development Aid – "…Bilateral agreements for investment protection and generalized preference measures contribute to this objective. We renew our commitment to secure substantial flows of official aid and to improve the quality of this aid. The whole international community should be mobilized in this effort, and new donors should assume growing responsibility, so that the burden is more equally shared."
Global Partnership for Development – "Within the framework of this new partnership, the priority must be to implement more effectively-targeted policies, with four complementary objectives:
We will concentrate resources on [Sub Saharan African] countries that need them most and that can use them effectively, reflecting the fact that their policy program is credible and that their Government is fully committed to implement it. Grants and concessional financing should be directed primarily to meet the financial requirements of the poorest countries which have no or limited access to the international capital markets, once they can demonstrate their commitment to create the conditions to use them effectively;
We should support the establishment of a dynamic and competitive private sector in developing countries based on small and medium scale enterprises.
lastly, further integrating the Least and Less Developed Countries into the global economy, using the full range of policy instruments having an impact on development. Within the multilateral environment which has emerged from the Uruguay Round Agreement, this should be an essential objective. We will support the LLDCs' efforts to achieve such integration, for example, by responding favourably to requests for technical assistance in the fields of investment, privatization and export diversification, and encouraging international organisations and programs to do likewise. We will implement the provisions of the Marrakech Decision on Measures in Favour of Least Developed Countries. In this context we will examine what each of us could do to improve their access to our markets and we encourage others to do the same, including other developing countries."
WTO Membership – "We support the goal of early Russian accession to the WTO on the basis of conditions generally applicable to newly acceding members."
Policy Coordination – "The increasing openness and interdependence of our economies, with deep trade linkages and ever greater flows of private capital, means that problems in one country can spill over more easily to affect the rest. We must cooperate to promote global growth and prosperity."
Improving Market Accessibility – "We each will continue to improve, through various means, access to our markets for African exports."
LDC Integration in Trade – "We support the further integration of the least developed countries into the world trading system."
Effective Implementation of WTO Plan – "African countries will be major beneficiaries of efforts in the WTO on a plan of action to promote capacity building and to provide predictable and favourable market access conditions for least developed countries. We are committed to the effective implementation of this plan and intend to participate actively in the high-level WTO/UNCTAD/International Trade Centre meeting later this year."
Export Control Regimes – "We underline our support for arrangements that make up international export control regimes. The Zangger Committee and Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and for those who are members, the Australia Group Export control regime, all contribute critically to the global application and enforcement of international export control norms."
Implementation of Partnership For Development – "This year, we aim to translate the principles of that Partnership into new concrete action to support the efforts of African countries to participate fully in the expansion of global prosperity and to spread the benefits throughout their societies. Our objective is not only to facilitate the progressive integration of African countries into the world economy, but also to foster the integration of poor populations into economic, social and political life of their countries."
LDC Political Reforms – "We will support African efforts to promote democracy and good governance, improve the integrity of public institutions, enhance the transparency of government spending, in particular of procurement, and develop national anti-bribery regulations."
Review of Development Aid Programs – "We will review our own bilateral aid and trade promotion programs to ensure that they support climates conducive to economic growth and private investment, including by strengthening capacity."
Allocation of Development Assistance – "We will work with African countries to ensure adequate and well-targeted assistance for those countries which have the greatest need and carry out the necessary broad-based reforms. This assistance will include support for democratic governance, respect for human rights, sound public administration, efficient legal and judicial systems, infrastructure development, rural development, food security, environmental protection and human resource development, including health and education of their people."
Effective Implementation of Development Assistance – "To maximize the effectiveness of our efforts, we will deepen the dialogue with African partners, work for greater local ownership of development strategies, and encourage the participation of non-governmental actors."
Strengthening Donor Coordination – "We will also strengthen donor coordination, including with emerging donors."
Integration and Coordination of UN Development Funds – "We encourage the UN's development funds and programs and specialized agencies, to emphasize work in the field of Africa and to fully integrate and coordinate their efforts, both at the headquarters and at the country level."
Effectiveness of UN Development Approach – "The UN Development Program's decision to allocate a portion of its resources based on program quality is a useful approach to assuring effectiveness, and we urge that it be adopted more broadly in the UN's work.
OECD Tax Recommendations – "We will work through the Forum [on harmful tax practices] to secure effective implementation of the [OECD] recommendations.
OECD and non-OECD cooperation – "[We] will actively support the proposed dialogue with non-OECD members to promote the agreed principles and recommendations on global issues."
Simplifying Custom procedures – "[We] urge our experts to reduce that data [a harmonized and simplified data set for import and export procedures] to a minimum consistent with customs responsibilities by the end of this year. We ask our experts to complete their work, including the development of standardised electronic declarations and to encompass the related import and export data requirements of other government departments and agencies."
Standardized Customs Procedures – "Our countries will, drawing on each others' experience, take all steps possible to establish customs prototypes or other procedures involving all the G7 countries, which will use an agreed G7 data set, by the Summit in the year 2000 if possible."
World Customs Organisation – "We also welcome the significant progress made on the Action/Defis programme of the World Customs Organisation to strengthen co-operation between enforcement agencies and associations of international carriers. We encourage further development of this work."
Lender of Last Resort Initiative – "We called specifically on the international financial institutions to make temporary resources available to countries undertaking ambitious trade liberalisation where this gives rise to short-term balance of payments or fiscal difficulties."
Regional Integration initiatives in Developing Countries – "We emphasise the value of regional integration among developing countries that wish to pursue it, particularly in Africa, where many countries suffer from small and fragmented markets and poor transport facilities. We remain ready to support this process with technical assistance. We also urge the international financial institutions to develop more effective support and new instruments for regionally based initiatives."
WTO LDC Plan of Action – "We recognise the particular trade problems of the least developed countries. We stress the importance of effective implementation of the WTO plan of action for the least developed countries, including programmes of integrated technical assistance. We will keep progress under review at the WTO Ministerial."
Deregulating Electronic Commerce – "We encourage removal of inappropriate and unnecessary legal barriers to the electronic conduct of business."
Electronic Access To Information – "We encourage public administration to use electronic means to deliver programmes and services, promoting progress in the WTO Working Group on Transparency in Government Procurement and the reform of the WTO Government procurement Agreement, and pushing forward the work on trade facilitation in the WTO and elsewhere."
Improved Access to Development Assistance – "We agreed to work in the OECD Development Assistance Committee, the IMF/IBRD Development Committee, the Special Programme for Africa to promote more flexible funding of aid and technical assistance programmes to developing countries, programmed in partnership with recipient countries.
HIPC Initiative – "The substantial debt relief already given under Naples terms and the results achieved, with six countries already declared definitely eligible for HIPC debt relief and a further two countries likely to be declared eligible shortly. We encourage all eligible countries to take the policy measures needed to embark on the process as soon as possible so that all can be in the process by the year 2000."
Productive Use of Export Credits – "We agree that our export credit agencies should seek to ensure their export credits to HIPC countries are used productively."
Protectionism – "We call on all nations to resist protectionist pressures and to open their markets further."
WTO Membership – "We encourage those states not yet members of the WTO to join it, by accepting its principles."
WTO Transparency – "We agree on the importance of improving [the WTO's] transparency to make it more responsive to civil society while preserving its government-to-government nature."
Seattle Round – "We pledge to work for a successful ministerial meeting in Seattle in order to launch the new round."
WTO Effectiveness – "We will also seek a more effective way within the WTO for addressing the trade and environmental relationship and promoting sustainable development and social and economic welfare worldwide."
Seattle Round – "We therefore call on all nations to launch at the WTO Ministerial conference in Seattle in December 1999 a new round of broad-based and ambitious negotiations with the aim of achieving substantial and manageable results."
Seattle Round – "We encourage all members to make proposals for progress in areas where developing countries and in particular least developed countries can make a solid and substantial gains"
Improved Market Access – "We reaffirm our commitment made in Birmingham last year to the least developed countries on improved market access."
Policy Coordination – "We also urge greater cooperation and policy coherence among international financial, economic, labour, and environmental organizations."
Trade and Biotechnology – "Because trade is increasingly global, the consequences of developments in biotechnology must be dealt with at the national and international levels in all the appropriate fora. We are committed to a science-based, rules-based approach to addressing these issues."
Trade in Developing Countries – "We intend to step up work with developing countries and multilateral institutions to improve developing country capacity to exercise their rights and meet their obligations in the global trading system so as to ensure that they derive the full benefits of liberalized trade and thus contribute to global economic growth."
LDC Assistance – "We will continue to provide substantial support and assistance to developing and transition economies in support of their own efforts to open and diversity their economies, to democratize and improve governance, and to protect human rights."
ODA Assistance – "We will strive gradually to increase the volume of official development assistance (ODA) and to put special emphasis on countries best positioned to use it effectively."
ODA Assistance – "To ease future debt burdens and facilitate sustainable development, we agree to increase the share of grant-based financing in the ODA we provide to the least developed countries."
OECD aid – "We reaffirm our support for the OECD mandate to finalize a recommendation on untying aid to the least developed countries. We call on the OECD members to bring this effort to a successful conclusion as soon as possible."
Koln Debt Initiative – "To this end we welcome the 1999 Koln Debt Initiative, which is designed to provide deeper, broader and faster debt relief through major changes to the HIPC framework. The central objective of this initiative is to provide a greater focus on poverty reduction by releasing resources for investment in health, education and social needs…We are aware that new proposals will require additional substantial financing. While several means of financing are under consideration, credible progress in identifying additional funding possibilities is needed, and we stand ready to help with financing solutions."
