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The Federal Ministry of Industry,Trade and Investment, as the lead agency on WTO matters has been urged to continue to drive the process of trade in Nigeria by ensuring that the public is sensitized to the benefits of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements.
This formed part of the highlights of the communique issued at the end of a WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) 3-DAY NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) MEASURES AND THE TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (TBT) AGREEMENT HELD recently in ABUJA.
The Enlarged National Focal Point (ENFP) on WTO and other Multilateral Trade Related Issues, should ensure that their various sub-committees function very well especially the SPS and TBT Committees.
Also, the Enlarged National Focal Point (ENFP) on WTO and other Multilateral Trade Related Issues, should ensure that the National Notification Authority and all the Enquiry points of both SPS and TBT should be very active by meeting regularly to review activities and participate in regular meetings of SPS/TBT Committee meetings three times annually,the communique added
It said Nigeria should take proactive steps in ensuring that its supply side constraints are addressed; such as weak infrastructure, weak border control and inadequate funding and relevant Agencies in Nigeria should ensure the removal of trade barriers.
To facilitate trade,the Federal government was advised to encourage Nigerian manufacturers with more incentives in order to improve their export businesses to meet up with stringent measures by our trading partners.
Regarding Fisheries Subsidies,Nigeria should intensify efforts to ensure the speedy ratification of the Agreement.
SPS-TBT agreement form part of the series of agreements of World Trade Organisation that allows countries to set their own standards,but it stipulates that regulations must be based on science and should be applied only to the extent necessary to protect human, animal,or plant life or health.
Nigeria has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since November 1960.
