WTO pursues agriculture, services liberalization<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Following its failure to launch a new round of
\nmultilateral trade negotiations in Seattle last November, the
\nWorld Trade Organization is pursuing negotiations on agriculture
\nand services.<\/p>\n
WTO secretary-general Mike Moore said here on Tuesday that
\nnegotiations on agriculture and services would start soon and
\nthey should benefit developing countries like Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"That's pretty good because agriculture and services cover
\nmore than half of the world economy,\" Moore said after speaking
\nat the Center for Strategic and International Studies.<\/p>\n
The WTO General Council, which brings together ambassadors of
\nthe 135 member countries, has agreed to open talks on services in
\nthe fourth week of February, and on agriculture from the week
\nbeginning March 20.<\/p>\n
\"Now we go to the next difficult steps, how we negotiate that
\nthrough. I think it's enormously encouraging because agriculture
\nand services are so important for all of us,\" Moore said.<\/p>\n
\"Particularly agriculture, for developing countries, has been
\na tragedy. Agriculture has been such a political battleground.
\nEven in Seattle, we saw it again, a clash of great interests.\"<\/p>\n
Agriculture was one of the thorniest issues in the WTO
\nministerial meeting in Seattle, which collapsed without overall
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
The United States and the Cairns Group of 15 agricultural
\nexporters -- including Indonesia -- are demanding the removal of
\ntrade barriers, notably an end to export subsidies for farm
\nproduce.<\/p>\n
The European Union, which accounts for 85 percent of world
\nsubsidies for agricultural exports, is firmly opposed to any
\nattempt to treat agriculture as a sector for open markets like
\nothers.<\/p>\n
On services, Moore said negotiations should proceed smoothly
\nbecause it was in the interest of every country to have free
\ntrade on services to build a strong services industry, especially
\nthe financial sector.<\/p>\n
\"Negotiations on services are of enormous value for countries
\nlike Indonesia, which are getting more and more gains from
\nexports of manufacture,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Negotiations on agriculture and services were mandated to take
\nplace this year under agreements reached during the 1986 to 1994
\nUruguay Round.<\/p>\n
In addition, Moore said, he would continue with his agenda to
\nforce developed countries to give market access -- such as import
\ntariffs or quotas -- to the poorest nations.<\/p>\n
\"We are trying to get together a package for the least
\ndeveloped countries in terms of market access. This is a moral as
\nwell as an economic imperative,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Moore's plan to grant market access to the poorest nations was
\namong those discussed by the WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle,
\nbut was shelved when the meeting collapsed without overall
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
Moore said he still aimed at starting a new round of global
\ntrade negotiations during his three-year term.<\/p>\n
He said his two-day visit to Indonesia was part of his
\ncampaign for the new round of negotiations.<\/p>\n
During his stay here, Moore met with Minister of Agriculture
\nM. Prakosa, Minister of Industry and Trade Yusuf Kalla and
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab.<\/p>\n
\"I don't believe that WTO has paid enough time on Indonesia
\nand that's why I'm here,\" Moore said. \"For Indonesia, areas of
\nexcellence of textile, of agriculture. These are important if
\nthere is a new round.\"<\/p>\n
However, he said, differences between developed and developing
\ncountries were still too great to start a new round of trade
\nnegotiations after the Seattle debacle.<\/p>\n
\"At the moment, there is not enough flexibility to start a new
\nround. But there is a mellowing, there is an understanding among
\nmember countries,\" he said. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wto-pursues-agriculture-services-liberalization-1447893297",
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