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2007年7月WTO对巴林王国贸易政策审议-主席总结发言(英文)

TRADE POLICY REVIEW: KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

18 and 20 July 2007

Concluding remarks by the Chairperson

 

 



 


1. This second Trade Policy Review of the Kingdom of Bahrain has allowed us to improve our understanding of its trade and related policies, and the developments since its previous Review in 2000. Our discussions have greatly benefited from the participation of H.E. Dr. Hassan Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, and his delegation. Our thanks are also due to our discussant, Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, for his insightful contribution to our discussions, and the engagement of delegations.

2. Members commended Bahrain for its impressive economic performance over the past few years. This reflects its successful diversification strategy, supported by its generally open and business-friendly environment, a large influx of foreign labour, and in recent years, by high oil and natural gas earnings. Bahrain was praised for its efforts towards ensuring intergenerational equity in the exploitation of its non-renewable resources, through health, education, and infrastructure projects. Recent measures taken by Bahrain to further liberalize its investment regime were also welcomed, although delegations noted that the investment regime remains restricted or limited in certain activities, some of which continue to be dominated by state-owned companies.

3. Members appreciated Bahrain's commitment to the multilateral trading system, including the DDA negotiations, and encouraged it to increase its participation in WTO activities and to fully meet its notification requirements. Bahrain's market for all products is quite open, and the bulk of its trade has taken place on an MFN basis. Nevertheless, delegations noted Bahrain's participation in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Greater Arab Free-Trade Area (GAFTA), as well as in bilateral trade agreements, most of them being yet to be fully established.

4. Members welcomed the decrease in tariff protection from 7.7% in 2000 to 5.3% in 2007 following the application of the GCC common external tariff by Bahrain on 1 January 2003, but urged Bahrain to extend the scope of its tariff binding commitments, and reduce the gap between applied and bound rates. Some Members also raised concerns about Bahrain's requirement for consular formalities on imports, and its enforcement of WTO provisions on customs valuation. Delegations noted the absence of competition legislation, and encouraged Bahrain to amend its government procurement regime to remove, inter alia, the price preferences for domestic and GCC products. Other issues of interest to Members included TBT and SPS measures; protection of intellectual property rights; agriculture, including consumer subsidies to beef imported from Australia and domestic support; state control over, and development plans for, the energy sector; state support for manufacturing, in particular the aluminium industry; and services, including GATS commitments, financial services, telecoms, transport, and tourism.

5. Members appreciated very much the responses provided by the Bahraini delegation, and look forward to receiving written answers to any outstanding questions.

6. In conclusion, I congratulate the Kingdom of Bahrain on the openness of its economy and encourage it to pursue its reforms, including by further improving its multilateral commitments, both on goods and services, with a view to enhancing the transparency and predictability of its trade regime, and adherence to WTO principles. Members could help Bahrain in its efforts by keeping their markets open for products and services of interest to Bahrain, and by providing adequate technical assistance.

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