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Flexibility by the EU gives new chance to WTO talks
Geneva, Nov 23: Signs of `flexibilty` from the European Union over sensitive trade issues will make it easier to re-launch a crucial round of WTO negotiations within a three-week deadline, developing countries said.
Geneva, Nov 23: Signs of "flexibilty" from the European Union over sensitive trade issues will make it easier to re-launch a crucial round of WTO negotiations within a three-week deadline, developing countries said.
EU trade commissioner Pascal Lamy indicated on Wednesday he was ready to put aside discussions on such things as cross-border investment and competition policies --
long-supported by the 15-nation bloc -- to help galvanize the current round of talks aimed at liberalising global trade.
These so-called Singapore issues had been widely blamed for stalling a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting of ministers, in Cancun, Mexico in September. The meeting is considered by many as the last chance for WTO member states to steer negotiations towards their scheduled conclusion at the end of 2004.
Developing countries said they hoped this gesture by the Europeans would help to unblock the current impasse.
"I think this will lift one of the obstacles in the negotiations," said Burkina Faso's ambassador to the WTO, Kadre desire Ouedraogo, who said he was more optimistic about reaching an agreement in December. "Countries in the south will welcome such a decision by the EU favourably," predicted Omar Hilale, the WTO ambassador for Morocco, who met Lamy in Geneva on Wednesday during a meeting with the G90 -- grouping the African Union, the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific and least developed countries.
The EU must also convince the Group of 20 (G20) industrialised and developing countries, which include Brazil, India and China, of its new resolve after the two sides clashed in Cancun over farm subsidies.
Bureau Report
These so-called Singapore issues had been widely blamed for stalling a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting of ministers, in Cancun, Mexico in September. The meeting is considered by many as the last chance for WTO member states to steer negotiations towards their scheduled conclusion at the end of 2004.
Developing countries said they hoped this gesture by the Europeans would help to unblock the current impasse.
"I think this will lift one of the obstacles in the negotiations," said Burkina Faso's ambassador to the WTO, Kadre desire Ouedraogo, who said he was more optimistic about reaching an agreement in December. "Countries in the south will welcome such a decision by the EU favourably," predicted Omar Hilale, the WTO ambassador for Morocco, who met Lamy in Geneva on Wednesday during a meeting with the G90 -- grouping the African Union, the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific and least developed countries.
The EU must also convince the Group of 20 (G20) industrialised and developing countries, which include Brazil, India and China, of its new resolve after the two sides clashed in Cancun over farm subsidies.
Bureau Report