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WTO acknowledges crucial EU role in the multilateral trading system

Sommaire: WTO acknowledges crucial EU role in the multilateral trading system (26 February 2007: Brussels)

The biannual WTO Review of the EU's trade policy released this week positively evaluates the EU's contribution to the multilateral system and the ongoing Doha Round negotiations. The Report also notes the EU's efforts to assist the integration of Developing Countries into the world trading system. The report recognises the major steps taken over the last two years in consolidating EU enlargement and the EU's Internal Market, and notes the emerging benefits of the EU's reform of its Common Agricultural Policy.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said: "I welcome the recognition of the EU's role in pushing the Doha Round forward, as well as our work in favour of developing countries. The EU is one of the most open economies in the world and is committed to free and fair trade in an open global economy."

Some key points:

• The report notes the EU's instrumental role in the Doha negotiation and in the process of integrating developing countries into the multilateral trading system. These efforts include for example, negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries, the reform of the EU's GSP system, development assistance and aid for trade.

• The report notes the potential value of further liberalisation in the EU services market, something facilitated by the current consolidation of the Internal Market and the adoption of the Services Directive in December 2006, which by and large removes the final obstacles to creating EU-wide services markets.

• The report notes the need for further liberalisation of the agricultural sector in Europe and recognises in this context the 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the far-reaching conditional agricultural offer made by the EU in the ongoing Doha Development Agenda negotiations, which would slash trade-distorting farm subsidies, eliminate all export subsidies and significantly reduce agricultural tariffs.

• The report notes the importance of ensuring that the multilateral trade system remains the priority for the EU. The EU has recently proposed a new generation of bilateral trade agreements with ASEAN, India and South Korea designed to complement the WTO system by tackling areas like investment, intellectual property and public procurement not currently covered by WTO rules. Bilateral agreements of this kind will ultimately drive forward the multilateral trade agenda.
Background

Along with the other major trading powers in the WTO, the EU is reviewed every two years by the WTO Trade Policy Review Body - the previous review was held in October 2004. The report drawn up by the WTO recognises the predominant role of the EU in the WTO as one of the world's largest trading powers and the biggest individual trading power for agricultural products and services. The WTO report looks at all trade-relevant areas and measures.

Under the WTO's Trade Policy Review Mechanism, the four largest Members in terms of trade volume are reviewed every two years; currently, these Members are the EU (last reviewed in October 2004), the US (last reviewed in March 2006, Japan (last reviewed in January 2007) and China (last reviewed in April 2006). The next 16 Members are reviewed every four years, and the rest every six years; a longer period may be fixed for Least Developed Country Members.

The review is based on a report by the WTO Secretariat, a report from the EU and written questions from Members, to which the EU replies in writing. The Review will be discussed at WTO meetings on 26 and 28 February.

  • Ref: EC07-047EN
  • Source UE: Commission Européenne
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 26/2/2007


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Voir aussi
 

Etats Membres de l'Union Européenne