RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/TPR/W/9
17October 1995
ORGANIZATION
(95-3122)
TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY Original: English
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM
Review ofMauritius
Communication from theDiscussants
Inpursuance ofAnnex 3,paragraph C(iv) oftheWTO Agreement, thefollowing areoutlines
ofthemain points toberaised byMr.Chiedu I.Osakwe (Nigeria) andMs.Clare Birgin (Australia)
atthereview ofMauritius tobeheldon17-18 October 1995.
Itisrecalled thatthediscussants actintheirpersonal capacity.
(a) Mr.Chiedu I.Osakwe
1. Positive aspects ofMauritian policy.
aclear commitment toandcommendable programme oftrade liberalization
good record ofmacroeconomic andpolitical stability
hospitable climate fortrade andinvestment.
2. Some areas requiring improvement.
bound vs.applied agricultural tariffs
price controls andstatetrading prevent theoperation ofthemarket mechanism.
3. Support from theinternational community.
much ofsuccess hasbeenachieved withpreferential access tomarkets
consolidategainsfromtradeliberalizationtocopewithchallengesshouldacesssconditions
change
4. Regional considerations
Mauritius participation inCOMESA andconsistency withoutward-looking :risksand
opportunities
5. Privatization policies.
./.WT/TPR/W/9
Page2
(b) Ms.Clare Birgin
1. Mauritius 'response totheoutcome oftheUruguay Round.
commitments inservices sectors
2. Conformity oftrade lawswithWTO obligations.
adherence tomfnandnational treatment principles;
timetable fornewcommitments
3. Consistency ofpolicies withmarket principles.
operation ofimport licensing andstatetrading monopolies;
effect oflabour andeducation policies onresource allocation
4. Areas where trade régime could bemore transparent.
tariff concessions, taxincentives
5. Extent towhich trade policy favours integration ofthedomestic economy.
tariff escalation; various incentives
6. Benefits ofestablishment ofanindependent body toreview trade andeconomic policies and
practices.