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II.
Issues:
The
questions being addressed focus on the necessity
of the provisions particularly those on S&D.
Necessarily, the provisions then have to be
reviewed as to their effective implementation by
the developed countries for the benefit of
developing countries.
There
have been discussions leading towards the further
differentiation and the graduation of developing
countries.
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III.
Status
There
is a standstill in the respective WTO bodies on
safeguards, TBT, and TRIMs.
There is polarization as well in the
negotiating body on TRIPs regarding the extension
of GIs to other products, other than wines and
spirits.
There
has been no focus work.
Majority of the proposals including the
current ones are from least-developed countries
and the African Group.
A number have already been agreed in
principle in
Cancun
. In
some, agreement is also considered nearly
possible. There
are proposals, however, addressed in existing
negotiating groups where divergence is wide and
which remain outstanding.
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IV.
Unofficial
Policy Thinking and Suggestions
The
Philippines
should aim to address implementation concerns
provided it does not result to a reversal in whole
of the commitments made and implemented under the
Uruguay Round.
The
Philippines
should also ensure that in strengthening S&D
provisions, there should be no "carve out"
for selected developing countries only.
However, the issues should be capable of
being fully addressed after the bigger and broader
issues in the DDA have been resolved.
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