CHOGM asked to consider free trade area if WTO talks fail

Ben.M · 30-11-2005, 06:50 PM

http://business.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=3555

CHOGM asked to consider free trade area if WTO talks fail
by Christopher Scicluna

The Commonwealth Business Council has asked Commonwealth leaders to consider creating a Commonwealth free trade area if next month's WTO trade talks in Hong Kong fail.

The request was made yesterday when the council's leaders met Commonwealth Foreign Ministers and presented them with the communiqué' of the Commonwealth Business Forum.

"Over the past 2-3 weeks we started getting the feeling that there might not be agreement at the Hong Kong meeting, particularly on market access for agricultural products and services. Developing countries are willing to reduce their tariffs to the same level as OECD countries. The problem is market access for their agriculture in developed countries, including the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers" Mohan Kaul, the council's director general told The Times Business.

"The developing countries have become much more united and we have recommended to CHOGM that if there is a stalemate in the WTO talks, the Commonwealth countries should join together and give large market access to each other."

Dr Kaul said that Commonwealth countries such as Canada and Australia also appeared to favour the proposal. The only problem was the UK, Malta and Cyprus, which, because they are in the EU, cannot participate in such an arrangement.

"But for those who can, why not?" he said.

The communiqué says that: "The forum also urged that countries that are willing, should explore the possibility of establishing a Commonwealth preferential or free trade area. This would be particularly important if the Doha Round of trade negotiations is not successful."

Rahul Bajaj, co-chairman of the council, said at a press conference that two main messages were being sent to CHOGM - free and fair market access and the promotion and development of public-private partnerships.

In all, the CBC made nine recommendations:

• The removal of distortions to world trade especially in agriculture, by targeting high tariffs and subsidies in developed markets;

• A strengthening of the investment climate and competitiveness;

• Measures to ensure that business regulation is proportionate, simplified and necessary;

• Simplification of taxation on business;

• Private-public partnerships for infrastructure development;

• New policies to address education, skills and human resource development;

• Public-private financial and business partnerships to maximise access to ICT infrastructures and services;

• Action against fake products, particularly pharmaceuticals;

• The setting up of a small group of Commonwealth heads and business leaders to develop a Commonwealth programme on reform and globalisation.

mkpdavies · 30-11-2005, 06:51 PM

Which Britain should be a full part of.

Would our EU masters let us? Would they hell!

Angryjohn · 01-12-2005, 02:30 PM

This is a great idea. We should be in it. We really should be in it. Surely this is something that many people would agree with and is something that UKIP could promote.

30-11-2005, 06:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ben.M Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Suffolk Posts: 5	CHOGM asked to consider free trade area if WTO talks fail http://business.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=3555 CHOGM asked to consider free trade area if WTO talks fail by Christopher Scicluna The Commonwealth Business Council has asked Commonwealth leaders to consider creating a Commonwealth free trade area if next month's WTO trade talks in Hong Kong fail. The request was made yesterday when the council's leaders met Commonwealth Foreign Ministers and presented them with the communiqué' of the Commonwealth Business Forum. "Over the past 2-3 weeks we started getting the feeling that there might not be agreement at the Hong Kong meeting, particularly on market access for agricultural products and services. Developing countries are willing to reduce their tariffs to the same level as OECD countries. The problem is market access for their agriculture in developed countries, including the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers" Mohan Kaul, the council's director general told The Times Business. "The developing countries have become much more united and we have recommended to CHOGM that if there is a stalemate in the WTO talks, the Commonwealth countries should join together and give large market access to each other." Dr Kaul said that Commonwealth countries such as Canada and Australia also appeared to favour the proposal. The only problem was the UK, Malta and Cyprus, which, because they are in the EU, cannot participate in such an arrangement. "But for those who can, why not?" he said. The communiqué says that: "The forum also urged that countries that are willing, should explore the possibility of establishing a Commonwealth preferential or free trade area. This would be particularly important if the Doha Round of trade negotiations is not successful." Rahul Bajaj, co-chairman of the council, said at a press conference that two main messages were being sent to CHOGM - free and fair market access and the promotion and development of public-private partnerships. In all, the CBC made nine recommendations: • The removal of distortions to world trade especially in agriculture, by targeting high tariffs and subsidies in developed markets; • A strengthening of the investment climate and competitiveness; • Measures to ensure that business regulation is proportionate, simplified and necessary; • Simplification of taxation on business; • Private-public partnerships for infrastructure development; • New policies to address education, skills and human resource development; • Public-private financial and business partnerships to maximise access to ICT infrastructures and services; • Action against fake products, particularly pharmaceuticals; • The setting up of a small group of Commonwealth heads and business leaders to develop a Commonwealth programme on reform and globalisation.

30-11-2005, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,801	Which Britain should be a full part of. Would our EU masters let us? Would they hell! __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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01-12-2005, 02:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Angryjohn Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 309	This is a great idea. We should be in it. We really should be in it. Surely this is something that many people would agree with and is something that UKIP could promote.