Brussels, 28/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - Leaders of APEC countries (the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation forum) meeting in Los Cabos (Mexico) on Sunday called for the current negotiations post-Doha to be concluded by the end of 2004 and for progress to be made in several sensitive areas before the next round of WTO ministerial negotiations (scheduled for September 2003 in Cancun).
In a joint press release, the leaders of the 21 APEC countries also call for the elimination of export subsidies for farming products to be scrapped. Between now and the Cancun Summit, WTO members will have several deadlines to adhere to, including before the end of the year in terms of how to ensure poor countries get access to generic medicines. In Cancun itself, WTO members will be opening negotiations on competition and regulating foreign direct investment, two priority areas for the EU but which cause considerable concern among poor countries. The APEC statement explained that APEC is calling for progress in all areas before the fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun in 2003.
European Parliament Plenary Session