ASEAN: No social links to trade issues
ASEAN: No social links to trade issues
By Pandaya
BANGKOK (JP): ASEAN foreign ministers declared on Saturday
that they rejected the inclusion of workers rights, labor
standards and environmental issues in international trade
agreements.
Their views, issued in a joint statement at the end of the
two-day ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting, may set stage for
confrontation with their Western dialog partners who they meet
today.
"Attempts by some developed countries to introduce social
clauses into international trade agreements would restrict market
access and adversely affect the employment opportunities of
workers in developing countries," they said in the joint
communique.
They urged the International Labor Organization (ILO) to
support flexible and fair implementation of labor standards
considering the needs of developing countries.
They expressed "serious concern that the linkage of workers
rights, labor standards and environmental issues could become a
new pretext for protectionism."
ASEAN was at the forefront of campaigns to baffle efforts by
the U.S. and France to include in the recently concluded General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
The U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, European Union,
Japan and South Korea are ASEAN's dialog partners. They will
discuss security and political cooperation in the Asia- Pacific
today.
In their joint statement, the ASEAN foreign ministers raised
concern over international tensions and trade barriers, issues
likely to resurface in today's meeting with their dialog
partners.
Communique
The following are excepts on key issues the foreign ministers
raised in their joint communique.
* On security and political cooperation, the ministers noted
and welcomed ASEAN's increasingly central role in fostering
political and security cooperation in Southeast Asia and the
Asia-Pacific through initiatives such as the inaugural meeting of
the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). ASEAN should work with its ARF
partners to bring about more predictable and constructive pattern
of relations in the Pacific.
The foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN'
principles and objectives on regional peace and security,
particularly those contained in the ASEAN declaration on the Zone
of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), the Treaty of Amity
and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
They noted growing recognition for the treaty and expressed
their intent to facilitate association with the accord by non-
regional states.
* On the South China Sea, the ministers expressed appreciation
that the ongoing Indonesia-sponsored workshop series on managing
potential conflicts in the South China Sea had promoted
confidence-building among the countries directly concerned. They
were convinced that, given the political will and spirit of
cooperation, peace and stability in the region could be
significantly reduced.
* On Cambodia strife, they reiterated their support for the
Cambodian government but noted with concern that peace and
stability there had not been fully realized. They condemned the
recent coup attempt and deplored proclamation by the Khmer Rouge
of their so-called "provisional government".
* On the Korean peninsula, they expected early convening of
the inter-Korean summit and the resumption of the high level
talks between the U.S. and North Korea.
* On the recent development in former Yugoslavia. they called
for support for the latest peace proposals and the lifting of the
arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the face of Serbs'
rejection of the peace proposals.
* They urged world community to provide financial resources to
the Palestinian Authority with financial resources for successful
implementation of the Israel-PLO agreement on Palestinian
autonomy.
* On workers' rights, the ministers expressed serious concern
that the linkage of worker rights, labor standards and
environmental issues to trade could become a new pretext for
protectionism and could undermine the progress achieved so far in
the liberalization of world trade. While stressing the importance
of uplifting social conditions, they insisted that these issues
are more appropriately address by other competent international
bodies such as the ILO.
* On Asia-Pacific economic cooperation, they welcomed the
efforts of APEC in promoting greater economic cooperation and
trade liberalization and stressed the need to take into account
the different levels of economic development among APEC members
to sustain healthy economic growth in the region.
* On East Asia Economic Caucus, they noted the progress made
in the consultations to launch the East Asia Economic Caucus with
potential members and welcomed their valuable inputs and
suggestions. They agreed that these consultations be continued.
* On ASEAN Free Trade Area, they expressed satisfaction at the
progress of the implementation of the Common Effective
Preferential Tariff Scheme (CEPT) for AFTA. They noted that all
member countries had began implementing the tariff reduction
program in 1994.
The ministers expressed confidence that the CEPT would enhance
the competitiveness of ASEAN as an international production base
and encouraged the inflow of foreign direct investments into the
region.
They also reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN's relations with
its dialog partners in forging better understanding on issues of
common interests. They reiterated the concern over measures that
restrict market access of ASEAN exports.
Expansion -- Page 14