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DECISION ONMEASURES INFAVOUR OFLEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Ministers,
Recognizing theplight oftheleast-developed countries andtheneedtoensure theireffective
participation intheworld trading system, andtotakefurther measures toimprove their trading
opportunities;
Recognizing thespecific needs oftheleast-developed countries intheareaofmarket access
wherecontinuedpreferentialaccessremainsanessentialmeansforimprovingtheirtradingopportunities;
Reaffirming theircommitment toimplement fullytheprovisions concerning theleast-developed
countries contained inparagraphs 2(d),6and8oftheDecision of28November 1979onDifferential
andMore Favourable Treatment, Reciprocity andFuller Participation ofDeveloping Countries;
Having regard tothecommitment oftheparticipants assetoutinSection B(vii)ofPartIof
thePunta delEsteMinisterial Declaration;
1. Decidethat,ifnotalreadyprovidedforintheinstrumentsnegotiatedinthecourseoftheUruguay
Round, notwithstanding theiracceptance ofthese instruments, theleast-developed countries, andfor
solongastheyremain inthatcategory, while complying withthegeneral rulessetoutintheaforesaid
instruments, willonlyberequired toundertake commitments andconcessions totheextent consistent
withtheirindividual development, financial andtrade needs, ortheiradministrative andinstitutional
capabilities. Theleast-developed countries shallbegiven additional timeofoneyearfrom15April 1994
tosubmit theirschedules asrequired inArticle XIoftheAgreement Establishing theWorld Trade
Organization.
2. Agree that:
(i) Expeditious implementation ofallspecial anddifferential measures taken infavour
ofleast-developed countries including those taken within thecontext oftheUruguay
Round shallbeensured through, interalia,regular reviews.
(ii) Totheextent possible, MFN concessions ontariff andnon-tariff measures agreed in
theUruguay Round onproducts ofexport interest totheleast-developed countries may
beimplemented autonomously, inadvance andwithout staging. Consideration shall
begiven tofurther improve GSPandother schemes forproducts ofparticular export
interest toleast-developed countries.
(iii) Therules setoutinthevarious agreements andinstruments andthetransitional
provisions intheUruguay Round should beapplied inaflexible andsupportive manner
fortheleast-developed countries. Tothiseffect, sympathetic consideration shallbe
given tospecific andmotivated concerns raised bytheleast-developed countries in
theappropriate Councils andCommittees.
(iv) Intheapplication ofimport relief measures andother measures referred toin
paragraph 3(c)ofArticle XXXVII ofGATT 1947 andthecorresponding provision
ofGATT 1994, special consideration shallbegiven totheexport interests ofleast-
developed countries.
(v) Least-developed countries shallbeaccorded substantially increased technical assistance
inthedevelopment, strengthening anddiversification oftheirproduction andexportPage386
bases including those ofservices, aswellasintrade promotion, toenable them to
maximize thebenefits from liberalized access tomarkets.
3. Agree tokeepunder review thespecific needs oftheleast-developed countries andtocontinue
toseektheadoption ofpositive measures which facilitate theexpansion oftrading opportunities in
favour ofthese countries.