December 1: Speech to the Inter-Parliamentary Union's Conference on the World Trade Organisation
Parliaments have key role in making Doha Round transparent, Robert Sturdy MEP (UK)
Parliamentary oversight and control in the area of international trade should be given top priority to tackle the lack of transparency in the WTO Round - Parliaments should provide a strong impetus in order for the Doha negotiations to get back on track.
Public commitment of inclusiveness of the WTO Members is essential. It has to be clarified urgently where the development aspect of the ‘Doha Development Round’ stands for. The EU made efforts f.i. with the initiative of Everything but Arms. The developed countries now have to compromise on agriculture. At the same time a differentiation has to be made between the developing countries. Some rapidly developing countries are extremely competitive in certain sectors. This should be recognised to enable an outcome of the Doha negotiations.
It is high time for all parties to realise the importance of the multilateral approach to trade negotiations within the framework of the WTO.
To drive this message home is the main aim of this year's Parliamentary Conference of the WTO according to Robert Sturdy MEP, EPP-ED spokesperson on the International Trade Committee.
The annual session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO taking place today and tomorrow in Geneva will address the dangerous ramifications of a prolonged suspension in the Doha development round negotiations. A sine die suspension could result in a proliferation of bilateral and regional trade agreements which often put poorer countries in a disadvantaged position.
