Mandelson Plans Bilateral Trade Deals Despite WTO Setback
The European Union will use bilateral trade deals to “road test” measures deemed too sensitive to be included in the stalled global WTO liberalization negotiations, Peter Mandelson said Monday according to the Wold Bank press review.
Europes trade commissioner said Brussels was seeking ambitious deals with partners such as India and Russia that would include the highly contentious areas of investment, competition policy and government procurement.
The EUs attempts to have these new issues included in the Doha round of WTO talks were abandoned in 2003 after opposition from developing countries, but with the global talks now suspended Mandelson said Europe wanted them to be put back on the table in bilateral deals.
– We have made it clear to our partners that the EU is only interested in deep free trade agreements across the full range of sectors – like the agreement we signed with Chile in 2002. Not just goods, but services, non-tariff barriers and rules on issues such as investment, competition and public procurement as well, Mandelson noted.
Mandelson rejected speculation that Europe is abandoning global talks at the World Trade Organization or the fate of developing nations left aside in bilateral deals.
– We are not, as some have suggested, shifting our focus away from the WTO. Bilateral trade agreements need not be fatal to its success, Mandelson said.
European service industries have welcomed Mandelsons free-market agenda. But he faces opposition from traditional manufacturing and from farmers, who fear concessions made in trade talks will flood Europe with cheap food and consumer products that will put them out of business.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
