China is the latest country to host a meeting of the Boksburg Group
The Boksburg Group has launched ten guiding principles for technical assistance to developing countries in support of WTO commitments on trade facilitation under the current Doha negotiations. The principles represent a more outward facing product from the Group, which has hitherto influenced the negotiations more informally behind the scenes.
In its latest meeting in Beijing, China, in November, the Group focused on how to create a framework for WTO Members to make commitments to modernise their border controls. In some cases commitments may need adequate implementation time, but in others developing countries may wish to make them conditional on technical assistance being provided by donor countries and organisations where this is necessary to provide capacity for implementation.
The guiding principles were founded on the views of donors and negotiators as to what guidance would be helpful for this stage of the negotiations. They have since been made available in the WTO negotiating room in Geneva for all WTO Members. The Boksburg Group plans a more detailed presentation in the margins of the next round of negotiations in mid-February.
The Boksburg Group comprises a mix of public and private sector participants from around the developing world, facilitated by SITPRO and the Commonwealth Business Council, and funded by DFID and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Details of the guiding principles can be found at www.boksburggroup.org.
Return to SITPRO News: Issue 63, Winter 2007/2008
