Brussels, 21/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - Invited on Tuesday to present France's position on the Doha Round negotiations to members of the European Parliament's international trade committee, chaired by Spanish Socialist Enrique Baron, French Trade Minister Christine Lagarde called on emerging countries to “stop focussing talks on the agriculture section”. “The meetings in Hong Kong (in December 2005), Davos (last January) and London (in February) did not bring successful consolidation of the Doha negotiations,” said Mrs Lagarde, before going on, “while 'development' may have made progress (developed countries and large emerging countries agreed in Hong Kong to grant duty-free and quota-free market access of up to 97% to goods from the least developed countries), the EU's offensive interests in the area of manufactured goods (NAMA) and services made little progress”. Time is of the essence because the 149 WTO countries have to decide on their arrangements (figures and other provisions) on agriculture and NAMA by 30 April, the Minister pointed out, calling on the United States and the emerging countries to commit themselves to the negotiations. “As Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson says, the developed countries can not alone bankroll the cycle,” warned Mrs Lagarde, stressing that emerging countries had to make concessions on NAMA and services, in return for the efforts Europe had already made (October's two agriculture offers and the setting of a date for the removal of export subsidies by 2013).
“European companies want market access along with tangible drops in customs duties on NAMA and easier access on services,” said the French Minister. Welcoming Mr Mandelson's firmness (rewarded with unanimous support from the Council, she pointed out), Mrs Lagarde sought to rebut incorrect ideas about the French and Community positions on agriculture. With the reformed CAP (“which the Americans want to use as their guide”) and the end of export refunds by 2013, “Europe has a modern vision in agriculture”, she said, stressing the importance given by the EU to food safety. Stressing too that, contrary to popular belief, Europe, a pioneer in full opening to goods from least developed countries, was “not a fortress”, Mrs Lagarde also warned that further agricultural liberalisation would not be of benefit to the poorest countries, but especially to emerging countries, like Australia, South Africa and Brazil.
The French Trade Minister said she was in favour of reform of the way the WTO was run, which would require, she said, reconsideration of the “not very fair” principle of “one country, one vote”.