EU move on export subsidies takes Doha forward

Statement by EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson:

"Today Europe has gone further in its existing commitment to eliminate its export subsidies by setting a clear end date in 2013. I said we came to Hong Kong to do business and this shows we meant it.

We have demanded, and received, equivalent commitments from others for similar subsidy reform. This is a genuine advance for the agriculture negotiation and for the development goals of the Doha Round. Europe made it happen and we are pleased to have done so.

We rejected the demand for a 2010 final date for what it is: a political gesture that would see Europe withdraw from global export markets faster than is economically sustainable.

We have insisted on equal reform from others because effective reform means that all export subsidies are eliminated, not just Europe's. That is what can be achieved in a multilateral negotiation. We will continue to demand that others move with us, every step, and every cut until all forms of export subsidy are ended.

In a week of disappointments this is no small prize. It is not enough to make this meeting a true success. But it is enough to save it from failure."

Statement by EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel:

"I am happy that 2013 is in this paper as the phase-out date for export subsidies. This is clearly linked to the period when the current CAP reforms will be fully operational.

The rest of the text on the phase-out is not a Christmas gift for us

However, what matters is that we will define later what the word "substantial" means, in terms of how much we have to reduce export subsidies before 2013.

We will not accept that it is so high that it disrupts our markets and makes new reforms necessary.

We have achieved good changes on parallel commitments on export subsidies for other countries.

And the US will now have to make significant farm reforms, for example to the infamous Counter Cyclical Payments.

All this is a good step for the negotiations over the coming months, when we hope to get agreement on final modalities."

| Top |

• EU Commissioner Mandelson: Europe still ambitious for Doha Round, but it is time for others to move (23/1/2006)
• EU Parliament - Head of EP delegation to WTO satisfied with Hong Kong Outcome  (20/12/2005)
• EU Council Conclusions - Hong Kong WTO Special Meeting (19/12/2005)
• EU Trade policy: no final date for ending export subsidies until others sign up to reform (16/12/2005)
• Food Aid: EU urges US reform (14/12/2005)
• Bananas: EU committed to fair deal for all developing countries - Press conference with EU Commissioner Fischer Boel (14/12/2005)
• Speech by EU Commissioner Mandelson on keeping the Doha Round moving (14/12/2005)
• EU offers big new trade aid boost (13/12/2005)
• EU Pushing Ahead the Doha Development Agenda (9/12/2005)