News Release
Pascal Lamy
No.
25/03
April 1, 2003
EU
TRADE COMMISSIONER LAMY SAYS REALISTIC APPROACH NEEDED IN WTO TRADE TALKS
Speaking
in Bangkok, first destination of a trip to Southeast Asia, EU
Trade Commissioner
Pascal Lamy said:
"I
share the disappointment of many that we have missed deadlines on agricultural
modalities which were to be agreed yesterday. But let's not over-dramatize
it either: deadlines are there to focus minds, to get people to clarify their
positions. This has largely been achieved: today, we have a much clearer understanding
than six or even three months ago about where individual countries stand.
"What
we need is a more realistic approach and less tactics. On
agricultural market access the EU has been working hard to respond to the
far-reaching expectations of highly ambitious WTO Members. The intermediate picture
is not bad because we have demonstrated that we are able to make things move forward.
The EU has sent strong signals. We have reformed our domestic policy. And this
is our basis in the negotiations.
"At
WTO level,
where we have put forward a proposal on agriculture which would not only reduce
our import tariffs by more than a third, our export subsidies by nearly half and
reduce trade-distorting farm support by more than half—and bind this in WTO—but
which also contains specific actions to give developing countries a better deal.
This is why we now consider ourselves again in a middle-ground situation between
the very divergent interests of other members.
"If
we want a good outcome in these negotiations we need all to accept the fact that
agriculture reflects how we run our rural economy and that it must be treated
in a way that preserves our rural society. And we must accept that if we do support
agriculture, we have to do it in non-trade distorting way. Of course, to move
forward in these negotiations it is of key importance not to rigidify positions
on either side of the spectrum. We all know that an over-ambitious stance will
not be of help to bridge the current gaps. If we all show real engagement and
flexibility now, I'm confident that we can come to a decision on the modalities
as soon as possible.”
For
further information:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/external/wto/index_en.htm
Press Contacts: |
Willy Hélin
202-862-9530
|
Wilfried Schneider
202-862-9523
|
|
Maeve O'Beirne
202-862-9549
|
|
