Brussels, 20/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - Before moving on to Paris where, at the end of this week, 39 countries are participating in the special OECD "steel" session, American Deputy-Secretary for Trade, Grant Aldonas had talks on recent developments in the steel industry and trade with his European counterpart, Mogens Peter Carl, in Brussels. Here is an overview of his comments to the press: :
1. Launch of trade negotiations with Iran. The Americans are concerned over the "signal sent" by the Union and "hope for a review of the situation". The Europeans, who prefer to "wait and see" in Turkey's case, seem to be "embracing the Iranian leaders at a time when repressive measures are being taken".
2. Steel. In the immediate future, Washington wants a political commitment from producer countries to negotiate the elimination of practices which have the effect of distorting trade. The Asians refuse to do so as long as the United States does not review its anti-dumping and anti-subsidy legislation but, according to Mr. Aldonas, "if they really want to make progress on a common problem, it should be enough to look at programmes we all have and that exacerbate over-capacity". The Chinese, who for the first time are participating in the steel session, "are the key. Without a doubt", he said, considering it logical to carry steel negotiations before the WTO.
3. GMOs/hormone-treated meat. The Americans consider both embargoes as "one further fibre in the fabric of European market protection". Their aim is to secure access even if it comes to putting in a formal complaint in Geneva. "The moratorium has been in place for four years (and) it's time to re-open the doors of the market", they demand impatiently, while waiting to see "whether or not there is progress on the European side", especially when the new rules on traceability take effect, no doubt next year. Regarding hormones, "a few exceptions" to the embargo "hardly provides satisfaction in the end, whereas the main purpose is to push American meat out of the European market".
4. European proposal on the agricultural chapter of the Doha Agenda. "We would have hoped that our European friends would have matched the ambition of the American proposal", but, "at first sight, it's not the case", said Aldonas, considering that there was still no question of a European proposal as "there need to be talks with Member States" before it is put to the WTO, no doubt in February 2003.