Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 13
By Ilaha Mammadli - Trend:
Dominican Republic and Honduras wish to obtain initial negotiating rights (INRs) from Azerbaijan as part of talks on the country's joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev told Trend on Aug. 13.
Mammadguliyev, who is also the head of the negotiation group on Azerbaijan's accession to the WTO, added that these countries are willing to obtain the INRs if Azerbaijan changes tariffs on some commodity items so that they can be the first to negotiate this issue.
This means that if a country which previously granted trade concessions on a particular product decides to cancel or change those concessions, it must first negotiate with the WTO member that has the INRs on that product, as well as with members, recognized by the principal goods suppliers.
That country should also consult with other members having a substantial interest in this product.
"We are currently studying this issue, because such a right can not be given to all countries," Mammadguliyev said. "We will see on which goods it will be possible to provide such a right, and will make a decision based on current practices."
The initial negotiating rights are granted to a country if the share of its exported goods exceeds 30 percent in total imports.
Dominican Republic and Honduras joined the negotiations recently.
"They want access to the Azerbaijani market, regardless of distance (over 10,000 kilometers), which hinders trade relations with those countries," the deputy foreign minister said.
According to the data from Azerbaijani State Customs Committee (SCC), the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Dominican Republic in the first half of 2014 was $15,350 (with specific gravity of 0.0001 percent of the total trade turnover), which is an increase of 34.2 percent. The entire trade relations were provided by imports.
No trade operations have been registered with Honduras this year, while last year products totaling only $110 were imported from that country.
Azerbaijan has had an observer status at the WTO since 1997. A working group on Azerbaijan was established at the WTO Secretariat on July 16, 1997.
Azerbaijan started negotiations with the WTO member countries in 2004. The country is currently negotiating with 18 countries.
Edited by CN
