Non-Agricultural Market Access (Industrial Products)
In the WTO context, non-agricultural products include forestry, fish, minerals and energy products, as well as other industrial products. The Doha mandate on non-agricultural market access (NAMA) provides for negotiations aimed at reducing or eliminating non-agricultural tariffs, including tariff peaks and tariff escalation. All non-agricultural products are covered by the negotiations, with no exclusions. The negotiations are to take into account the needs and interests of developing countries, including through the principle of ‘less than full reciprocity’ in tariff reduction commitments. The mandate also provides that special consideration is to be given to market access for environmental goods.
NAMA negotiations are being handled by the Negotiating Group on Market Access. Negotiations have focused particularly on the development of a general tariff reduction formula. The ‘Framework Package’ of July 2004 specified that Members should work on a non-linear (or harmonising) formula for tariff reductions, in order to cut high tariffs by more than low tariffs, thereby better addressing high tariffs and tariff peaks as required under the Doha mandate. Negotiations on the detail of this formula continue.
The Framework Package also allows the formula to be supplemented by sectoral initiatives, aimed at the elimination or harmonisation of tariffs in particular product sectors, particularly on products of export interest to developing countries. Discussions of specific proposals are taking place in informal Member-driven processes, based on a ‘critical mass’ approach, meaning that any proposal must attract a critical mass of Member support before being implemented.
The Doha mandate also addresses non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade in non-agricultural products. NTBs are measures, other than tariffs, which affect trade in some way; common examples are import licensing restrictions, labelling requirements and product testing standards. Many NTBs serve legitimate purposes, but others are unnecessary burdens on trade. Numerous proposals to reduce non-tariff barriers, either generally or in specific sectors, have been made in the negotiations, and any proposals able to attract a consensus of support will be incorporated into the final NAMA outcome.