Retreat of African negotiators on WTO issues post-Bali: opening remarks

Abstract

Opening remarks at the Retreat of African negotiators on WTO issues post-Bali Annecy, France. This Retreat was conceived in the framework of a close collaboration between ECA and the AU mission in Geneva, pivoting around the ninth WTO Ministerial Conference of Bali. ECA provided financial and substantive assistance to the African Group of negotiators, with the aim of contributing towards forging a common regional position. Exports, particularly those directed outside of the continent, remain typically concentrated on a narrow range of products and heavily dependent on primary commodities. ECA’s research shows that, unless significant structural transformation occurs, many LDCs may not be in a position to productively absorb young workers, even if they were to achieve the 7% growth target throughout 2020. Africa’s regional integration, an objective and a vision that have often been sacrificed on the altar of multilateral trade negotiation or of bilateral relations with bigger and more developed partners.