Moldovan official attends World Trade Organisation meeting in Geneva

Chisinau, 21 October /MOLDPRES/- Deputy Economics Minister Octavian Calmic participated, as head of the Moldovan delegation ,in a meeting of the member states of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), held in Geneva on 19-21 October. The event brought together representatives from over 100 WTO member states, EU, U.S.A., Russia, China, Brazil, Albania, Montenegro, Paraguay, Canada, etc.

According to a communiqué by the Economics Ministry’s press service, Calmic unveiled Moldova’s achievements in the trade policy, degree of fulfilling the commitments assumed within WTO in 2001-2015. In the context, 12 states gave speeches on the report by the Moldovan government and WTO Secretariat.

Most comments and issues were related to the customs duties applied by Moldova, some of them being higher that those negotiated at WTO in 2001, system of licensing of entrepreneurial activities, energy system and prospects for its integration in the EU one, customs management, product certification system and application of sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary measures on imports, work of free economic zones and tax preferences, activity of the Moldovan Railway and Posta Moldovei (Moldova's Post) enterprises, liberalization of access to rail and postal services etc. Another topic was focused on development of agriculture, especially the way of subsidies' distribution. In experts’ opinion, subsidies on export should be excluded, as are distorting international trade.

Calmic appreciated the WTO Secretariat for the assistance provided to Moldova in fulfilling the commitments within the organization, as well as for comments made on the government’s report in international trade policy sector.

“Fifteen years have passed since Moldova’s accession to WTO. Meanwhile, we have gained valuable experience  in international trade, through our participation in meetings of the WTO committees, sessions, working groups and ministerial conferences. Moldova was not only an observer in these processes, but also took actions meant to consolidate our commitment of liberalising international trade within WTO”, the economics minister noted. Also, Calmic pointed out that “in 2015, after long-lasting negotiations, Moldova signed an agreement on public acquisitions of WTO, marking the beginning of an important reform in this sector. In the same year, the government signed an agreement on trade facilitation within WTO. We have great hopes in terms of enforcement of these legal instruments in the internal legislation. The Moldovan parliament is to ratify both treaties in 2015 or 2016 at the latest," he said.

The official also noted that “Moldova is an active player as regards regional economic integration. Thus, our country signed a string of agreements, such as Central European Free Trade Agreement (2006), Free Trade Agreement with EU (2014) and Turkey (2014). As a result, Moldova implemented a string of economic reforms and boosted trade with these key-partners," he noted.

(Reporter A. Mardare, editor L. Alcaza)