61ST UNGA: SECOND COMMITTEE VOTES ON TRADE; ADOPTS

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002230

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/EDA,EB AND OES/ETC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAID SENV UNGA
SUBJECT: 61ST UNGA: SECOND COMMITTEE VOTES ON TRADE; ADOPTS
FIVE RESOLUTIONS ON DECEMBER 1

REF: STATE 193533


1. Summary: On December 1, the UN's Second Committee on
economic and financial affairs passed five resolutions,
including one on international trade that called for the
restarting of the WTO Doha round. The US was alone in voting
against it, while a large block of 52 countries including the
EU and other developed countries abstained. The Committee
passed resolutions by consensus on proclaiming international
years; on the international year of natural fibers; on the
international year of sanitation; on migration; and, on
special economic assistance for Angola, all without program
budget implications. End Summary.

G77 STOPS NEGOTIATING TRADE RESOLUTION
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2. After several negotiation sessions on a trade resolution
primarily urging that the WTO Doha round be restarted, the
Group of 77 countries indicated that they had not been able
to reach consensus, reintroduced their original draft of
A/C.2/61/L.14, and called for a vote. The vote was 107 Yes,
1 No (US),52 Abstentions, and 32 not voting, with the G77
voting Yes and the EU and other developed countries
abstaining.


3. In its Explanation of Vote (reftel),USDEL expressed
disappointment that the draft had prejudged the conditions
under which the Doha round should be restarted. The
representative of Australia said the text had understated the
role of a rule-based trading system. The Canadian delegate
pointed out several problems with the text, including that it
gave the incorrect impression that Trade Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property (TRIPs) were inconsistent with the
convention on biological diversity.

Other Resolutions
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4. The Committee approved four more resolutions by consensus,
none of which had program budget implications.
A/C.2/61/L.46/Rev.1, on the Proclamation of International
Years, was introduced by Australia and Canada, with the US
joining co-sponsorship. A/C.2/61/L.52 proclaimed 2009 the
International Year of Natural Fibers. A/C.2/61/L.51 made
2008 the International Year of Sanitation. A/C.2/61/L.47
focused on international migration and development.
A/C.2/61/L.10/Rev.2 was on international assistance for the
economic rehabilitation of Angola.











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