Morocco Calls for New Activation of GSTP in Geneva to Enhance Integration and Cooperation Among Southern Countries
Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to a robust South-South cooperation initiative through the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) on Thursday in Geneva. This call came during the 33rd session of the Participants’ Committee, chaired by the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Zniber.
These meetings occur in the context of rising tensions in the global economy due to increasing unilateral measures and a decline in predictability. Zniber explained that the lack of predictability negatively affects the smooth functioning of international trade, urging members to consider the future of GSTP ahead of the upcoming ministerial meeting next month, which will take place alongside the sixteenth UNCTAD conference.
The Moroccan delegation included representatives from the permanent mission in Geneva and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasizing the strategic role of GSTP in:
– Promoting regional integration,
– Stimulating trade exchanges among Southern countries,
– Strengthening collective economic resilience,
– Contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals, particularly Goal 17 related to partnerships for development.
Morocco also highlighted four main priorities: enhancing joint capacities to address global challenges, supporting regional mechanisms, improving transparency and trade stability, and integrating GSTP into a more sustainable multilateral framework.
Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco continues to pursue an active South-South cooperation policy, bolstered by the development of its logistics infrastructure and increased private sector engagement, positioning the Kingdom as a genuine platform for exchange within the global south.
It is noteworthy that the GSTP, established in 1989, now includes 42 countries, among them Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, and Thailand. Managed by UNCTAD, it serves as the only regional agreement based on “the enabling clause” within the World Trade Organization, granting customs preferences and facilitating trade among developing countries.
