Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-11-17-Speech-3-165"

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"en.19991117.6.3-165"2
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"Madam President, as others have said, I welcome Mr Schwaiger’s excellent work on what was a very complex set of issues to deal with. I also particularly welcome the fact that in his text he describes the forthcoming WTO round as a development round. It is a fact, of course, that of the 134 members of the WTO, two-thirds are developing countries, with another 32 in a queue waiting to join. But it remains the case that the exchange of trade commitments favours the bigger traders. They have much more to offer and their negotiating power is far greater. Many developing countries feel that free trade has not in fact been as free for them. Markets in the North remain restricted for many, as the most important developing country exports seek access. Accelerating globalisation is, of course, a fact of life. It nevertheless demands analysis and an acknowledgement that international trade is complex and is characterised by protectionism and by a system which fails to address the implications of subsidised agriculture for the poor. While we need, of course, to support the agricultural sector in the EU, and that is made clear in Mr Schwaiger’s report, we also have to recognise the need for developing economies beyond reaching markets to have access to food security so that people have enough to eat. And I hope that amendments along those lines will be accepted. The EU already has binding commitments to developing countries. These commitments, alongside international development targets, should be a central focus at Seattle. We are now, Mr Lamy, at a critical stage in the negotiations for a successor agreement to Lomé IV and we will soon be embarking on complex discussions on trade relations with 71 ACP countries. It is therefore very important now that we are negotiating a multilateral trade framework which respects that very critical relationship with the developing world that we continue to say that we will honour our obligations to the ACP. I would also urge the Commission and Member States to pursue a WTO binding commitment to allow all exports from least-developed countries duty-free access to European markets by 2003. There is also an urgent need to make sure that small and vulnerable states – landlocked states – are protected in future deals that are made. A Director-General of the WTO very recently said that the WTO must be an organisation where the little guy not only has a say but feels that he is protected and defended. I hope, Mr Lamy, that you will subscribe to that very important sentiment."@en1
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