WTO
NEWS: 2000 NEWS ITEMS
23
July 2000
DG Moore welcomes G-8 statement on launch of new trade round
World Trade Organization Director General Mike Moore, on 23 July 2000, welcomed the statement from leaders of the Group of Eight industrial countries that a round of multilateral trade negotiations should commence this year. A trade round, Mr. Moore said, offers the best way to ensure balanced negotiations which reflect the interests and concerns of all WTO member governments.
Mr.
Moore said it was vital for Canada, the European Union,
Japan and the United States to agree on the way forward
in launching such a round, but he made it very clear that
agreement among the Quad is not sufficient
for a successful launch. He stressed that there could be
no trade round unless such talks were supported by
developing country governments and unless more
flexibility on difficult issues is shown by all sides.
It would be a splendid thing if we could launch a round this year. I welcome the fact that such an important group of world leaders has cast a spotlight on the importance of such negotiations to the people of the world. This is an important step. But the WTO makes all of its important decisions by consensus and while agreement on a package of negotiations from the Group of Eight is welcome, there can be no launch of talks without support from the worlds developing countries. It is through a round that our organization can achieve a balanced agreement that enables us to tackle the many problems and concerns affecting the worlds citizens. Only through a round can you get the trade-offs that benefit the smallest and most vulnerable societies.
It would be a splendid thing if we could launch a round this year. I welcome the fact that such an important group of world leaders has cast a spotlight on the importance of such negotiations to the people of the world. This is an important step. But the WTO makes all of its important decisions by consensus and while agreement on a package of negotiations from the Group of Eight is welcome, there can be no launch of talks without support from the worlds developing countries. It is through a round that our organization can achieve a balanced agreement that enables us to tackle the many problems and concerns affecting the worlds citizens. Only through a round can you get the trade-offs that benefit the smallest and most vulnerable societies.