GUYANA TRADE MINISTER BLASTS 'UNFAIR' TRADE SYSTEM

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 001309 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR GY SUBJECT: GUYANA TRADE MINISTER BLASTS 'UNFAIR' TRADE SYSTEM AT WTO MINISTERIAL REF: A. GEORGETOWN 1249 ¶B. GEORGETOWN 1281 ¶1. SUMMARY: Guyana's Minister of Foreign Trade, Clement Rohee, criticized developing countries for negotiating trade rules that "further marginalize" developing countries. The remarks are the latest in a series of public pronouncements expressing distrust of the Doha Development Agenda. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Guyana's state-owned Guyana Chronicle newspaper reported Foreign Trade Minister Clement Rohee's statement on the opening day of the Hong Kong Ministerial that developed countries were "selfish and unrealistic" in their efforts to advance the Doha Development Agenda. The Minister also expressed suspicion of developing countries' commitment to the poverty reduction strategy of the UN's Millennium Development Goals. Speaking for the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, Rohee specifically cited preferences for sugar and bananas as an issue where CARICOM will not compromise. Rohee also dismissed special and differential treatment measures as "meaningless" in the absence of such preferences, noting that the European Union's recent announcement of a cut in sugar price supports was a "painful day for CARICOM". The Minister reportedly stopped short of condemning trade liberalization, acknowledging that "trade- based solution rather than handouts must be the way forward". ¶3. COMMENT. Adhering to previous statements in the run-up to Hong Kong (reftel A),Guyana's trade negotiator has unsurprisingly arrived at the WTO ministerial with gloves off. Rohee's notion that trade liberalization can be a catalyst for poverty alleviation--but that it must not come at the expense of special treatment for small, evolving economies-- generally squares with President Jagdeo's previous comments to EmbOffs (reftel B). Such remarks reinforce Guyana's sense of distrust and desperation in its efforts to retain favorable preferences in the face of more open trade. BULLEN