Brussels, 16/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 16 December, UNICE, a European employers' organisation, and the European Services Forum (ESF) urged Commissioner Peter Mandelson in Hong Kong 'not to back down but to insist that all WTO members - other than the least developed countries (LDCs) - make substantial offers.' In a joint statement, the organisations note: 'We are concerned that the negotiations are focussing on specific areas in agriculture, in particular export subsidies. We have come to Hong Kong with the expectation of a give-and-take and not with a view to putting the EU into a corner. We feel that the emerging countries of the WTO, in particular India and Brazil, have a responsibility to commit to ambitious market opening for goods and services… Much more could also be done by the US and Japan to grant market access to the LDCs.'
The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) has issued a press release in Hong Kong noting that 'WTO Members cannot continue to restate existing positions if there is to be hope of advancing the Doha Development Agenda this week…The reduction and eventual elimination of industrial tariffs and the reduction of non-tariff barriers are critical to the process of global trade liberalisation. The Ministerial must bring non-agricultural market access (NAMA) talks up to speed and into balance with other areas of the talks. Progress on agriculture will be a benchmark for success. Developed countries in particular must be prepared to reform their policies on domestic support, export subsidies and market access.' Claudio Murri, Chair of AmCham EU, added: 'Ministers must start negotiating results no in order to break the current deadlock, conclude the round next year and extend the benefits of enhanced trade to people and consumers around the world.'