Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-03-14-Speech-2-204"
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"en.20000314.10.2-204"2
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"This is a good question. I remember using this expression, contrasting 80% and 20%. It was intended to offer an explanation of the fact that a good deal of the work has already been done because, thanks to the most favoured nation clause, we inherit everything that the previous negotiator has achieved. That still leaves 20%, however, and for a very simple reason. In bilateral negotiations, each party tries to focus on the areas where he is least competitive, since it is understood that the rest will be left to the others.
That is why, in a number of subject areas, the United States have signed a bilateral agreement with the Chinese which is of benefit to us but which, on several points, is not as favourable as if we had negotiated it ourselves. That is the first reason. What we have to do as far as possible, and I am making every effort to achieve this, is to ensure that what is generally a good deal between the Americans and the Chinese is also a good deal for Europeans. So we are left with this remaining 20%, and it is only 20%, but, as you know, in negotiations the last few percentage points make all the difference, and this is where we are now.
There is another, more technical reason, involving some subtle points. Although the designations are fairly similar, there may be very different tariff items. Let me take the example of spirits. Bourbon and gin are not handled in the same way as whisky and cognac. Even though all spirits are ostensibly the same, there are cases where tariff items are not the same. These are more technical considerations, but they show that all these aspects must be looked into and negotiated in detail.
It is not quite over yet. I mentioned that I would be going to Beijing during the last week in March in order to attempt to resolve what I feel are real difficulties in these negotiations. These concern the political section with regard to which the Chinese authorities have expressed a number of reservations. My mandate at present is to attempt to overcome these reservations, and I shall make every effort to do so."@en1
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