APEC ministers commit to new round of global talks<\/p>\n
DARWIN, Australia (AFP): Asia-Pacific trade ministers on
\nTuesday threw their weight behind the launch of a new round of
\nglobal trade talks, admitting the Seattle agenda was overloaded
\nand bound to fail.<\/p>\n
\"The APEC ministers have agreed to reaffirm their support for
\nthe leaders statement that came out of Auckland last year towards
\nthe launch of a broad-based round of multilateral negotiations as
\nsoon as possible,\" said Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile, who
\nis chairing a meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade
\nministers here.<\/p>\n
Some of APEC's 21-members remained concerned that there was
\nnot a repeat of Seattle, where negotiations to launch a new round
\ncrumbled last December amid violent anti-globalization street
\nprotests.<\/p>\n
But Vaile said the next WTO attempt to launch a trade round
\nwould be more carefully planned.<\/p>\n
\"With the benefit of hindsight it wasn't the protests or the
\nprocess that caused Seattle to fail so much as an overloaded
\nagenda,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are collectively responsible for that, some more than
\nothers. We were trying to conduct negotiations before we even
\nlaughed the round.\"<\/p>\n
He refused to say what should be excluded from a new agenda
\nbut said it was broadly recognized there was \"a lack preparedness
\nin terms of the text, the issues and expectations of the issues
\nin Seattle.\"<\/p>\n
At the meeting of APEC leaders in Auckland last year, a four-
\npoint plan was agreed on as the basis for a new round of talks.<\/p>\n
It specified comprehensive market access negotiations on
\nindustrial tariffs in addition to already mandated negotiations
\non services and agriculture.<\/p>\n
The new round should also lead to improvements in market
\naccess, particularly for developing economies, and provide scope
\nto review and strengthen rules.<\/p>\n
The talks should be concluded within three years and
\nnegotiations should seek the abolition of agricultural export
\nsubsidies and unjustifiable export barriers, the leaders'
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Ministers in Darwin did not specify a timetable, but WTO
\nDirector-General Mike Moore downplayed expectations that it would
\nbe this year.<\/p>\n
\"There has been some movement, on implementation (of Uruguay
\nround commitments) for example, but there are still lines of deep
\ndisagreement,\" he said here, before addressing a ministerial
\nretreat.<\/p>\n
He was referring to core labor standards, the environment,
\ncompetition and investment.<\/p>\n
\"But we should not see disagreement as failure. It's simply
\ncountries fighting for their national interests. I think there is
\na modest chance this year.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/apec-ministers-commit-to-new-round-of-global-talks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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