Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel – Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (BKSAP) Fadli Zon attended the 51st Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (PC-WTO) at the European Parliament Building, Brussels- Belgium.
On the occasion, Fadli, who also acted as co-Chair, said that the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) had provided several positive outcomes to address current and future complex global challenges. Moreover, to place the most sensitive on the global economy.
“Among other things, the agreement instrument on fisheries subsidies emphasizes the commitment to achieving sustainable marine fisheries, although we are still far from fulfilling the mandate of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14.6 in terms of prohibiting certain forms of fisheries subsidies, which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, and providing effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries,” Fadli said through his written statement, Monday (1/5/2023).
In response to the current and upcoming pandemic, the conference, he added, marks an important milestone in the international community’s ongoing efforts to increase the supply and production capacity of vaccines and other medical goods, as well as to increase cooperation between developed and developing countries.
Fadli Zon also stated that he welcomed the MC12 document which underlined the importance of WTO reform. It also ensures that the WTO is able to answer the challenges facing the multilateral trading system.
“Going forward, to ensure productive preparation of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), Parliament at the national level, must build synergy with the government to discuss the contents of the agreed agreements, and about the ratification of instruments agreed in MC12. And through parliamentary diplomacy, it must also work together to encourage the government to reach an agreement, especially in expanding intellectual property waivers for COVID-19 diagnosis and therapy,” hoped this Member of Commission I DPR RI.
According to him, a strong push in resolving agricultural negotiation issues should be indisputable, especially a permanent solution on public stocks for food security (PSH) purposes and MC13 should be a momentum in that regard.
“Parliament should further promote and encourage equal, respectful and mutually beneficial cooperation, especially between developed and developing countries, in all aspects,” Fadli explained.
Furthermore, he encouraged the policies of countries, especially developed countries, to be in line with internationally agreed norms, including the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities; and take into account the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainable development in the process of policy formulation and implementation.
“It is imperative to exercise restraint and stop imposing measures that could worsen the socio-economic conditions of developing countries caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts taking place in the world today, as well as those that cause a setback to the positive progress of MC12 and the preparation of MC13,” he continued.
These include unilateral policies and regulations that are anti-development, serve as a cover for protectionism, and create barriers for developing countries to export their products and commodities.
He added, as the world is currently facing socio-economic challenges, Indonesia is deeply concerned about the proposed regulations from the European Union, including the Deforestation Free (DFC) Products/Commodities which contain mandatory due diligence on products deemed to be the main drivers of deforestation or land degradation.
“To this end, I am of the view that achieving inclusive socio-economic growth in developing and least developed countries should also be a priority and part of the MC13 outcome,” he concluded. (InfoPublik/Photo of DPR RI Public Relations)
