EU, Asia look to settle trade issues<\/p>\n
HANOI (Reuters): Economic ministers and officials from Asia
\nand Europe get together in Hanoi this week to try to iron out
\ndifferences in the way of a new trade liberalization round and
\nrevive economic ties between their regions.<\/p>\n
The European Union (EU) and the United States want to launch a
\nnew round of world trade liberalization talks at a Nov. 9-13
\nmeeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Doha, Qatar, a
\nmove they hope will help boost a flagging world economy.<\/p>\n
But to do this they need to convince developing countries,
\nsome of whom fear a new round of liberalization will only create
\nbigger profits for rich countries at their expense.<\/p>\n
\"The active support of the Asian countries will be essential
\nif we are to launch a new round at WTO negotiations in Qatar,\"
\nsaid EU Trade Commissioner Pasal Lamy ahead of his Hanoi trip.<\/p>\n
The last attempt to launch a new trade round failed in Seattle
\nin December 1999 when Europe and the United States, the world's
\ntwo biggest trading blocs, fell out over the agenda.<\/p>\n
A week of meetings in Hanoi will involve the 15 EU countries,
\nthe 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations, China,
\nJapan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.<\/p>\n
While Southeast Asian countries generally back the launching
\nof a new round they see some major hurdles that have to be
\novercome if that is to happen in Qatar in November.<\/p>\n
Some Asian officials in Hanoi for the talks have warned there
\nwas little time left to settle their concerns before Qatar.<\/p>\n
Philippines Assistant Secretary for Trade Jose Antonio
\nBuencamino said on Friday two changes to WTO rules proposed by
\ndeveloped countries covering investment and the environment were
\n\"non-starters\". He said Manila also had serious concerns about an
\nEU proposal on food safety.<\/p>\n
The director general of the Thai Commerce Ministry's
\nDepartment of Business Economic, Boontipa Simaskul, said
\npositions were still far apart on five core issues --
\nenvironment, investment, competition policy, implementation and
\nagriculture.<\/p>\n
Last week, even France suggested efforts to launch a new round
\nin Qatar might fail.<\/p>\n
A European official said the EU was prepared to be flexible in
\norder to reach compromises with Asian countries.<\/p>\n
\"There is put in place an overall EU strategy and proposal for
\nall these things,\" said the official, who did want to be
\nidentified.<\/p>\n
Another European official said Europe was opening up to Asian
\ngoods and in return was looking for greater access to Asian
\nmarkets, in particular for its services.<\/p>\n
\"We believe we are a fairly open market...We are opening the
\nmarket to allow them to export their products and we would just
\nexpect something in return,\" the second European official said.<\/p>\n
An Asian official said he expected the Asian ministers to show
\nguarded support for a new round of liberalization talks at the
\nHanoi meeting, but there would be a lot more hard bargaining
\nbetween now and the Qatar meeting.<\/p>\n
Another issue of concern to both Europeans and Asians is
\nemerging powerhouse China's admission to the WTO, which is
\nexpected later this year.<\/p>\n
Both the Asians and the Europeans say they want to strengthen
\neconomic ties between their regions.<\/p>\n
The Asians, in particular the Southeast Asians, realize they
\nhave to overcome dimmed European perceptions of their region as
\nan investment destination in the wake of the 1997 financial
\ncrisis and subsequent sluggish growth.<\/p>\n
Some EU leaders see EU-Asia as the weak link in a global
\ntriangle binding the United States, EU and Asia and want to
\nstrengthen engagement with Asia in the political and security
\nfields, and to boost business ties.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-asia-look-to-settle-trade-issues-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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