Brussels, 06/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Despite their unkept promises (see EUROPE 10913), the major world economies have re-asserted their commitment not to adopt restrictive measures until 2016.
Meeting in St Petersburg on 5-6 September, the G20 leaders re-asserted the importance of free trade as a key source of growth and development. “It is very good news that the G20 have reconfirmed their anti-protectionism commitment by extending the Toronto standstill clause to 2016 and stepping up efforts to roll back trade-restrictive measures as called for by the European Union”, said the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, José Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy respectively, at the end of the summit. The G20 countries have also committed to ensuring the success of the WTO ministerial meeting in Bali in December - which in particular is due to reach an agreement on trade facilitation, as part of the Doha Round negotiations. (EH/transl.fl)