EU to propose new cotton policy for developing countries
18 Nov '05
2 min read
The European Union is to propose a new offer for poor countries in WTO trade discussions before a key ministerial meeting in Hong Kong about cotton in particular, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.
EU is working on a special offer for developing countries, Barroso informed a joint new conference with Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure.
It would make it public before the Hong Kong ministerial meeting running from December 13 to 18, he added.
EU trade chief Peter Mandelson would prepare the offer to Toure during his visit to Brussels, the commissioner's spokesman Peter Power said.
Mandelson's offer would include removal of all export subsidies for cotton in all developed countries, duty free access for cotton imports by all developed and advanced developing countries and a considerable decrease of trade distorting local assistance for producers in developed countries.
The Hong Kong meeting is intended arrive at important features of an international accord to limit the Doha round negotiations launched in 2001 in the Qatari capital.
Negotiations intend to produce a wide-ranging multilateral deal reducing tariffs, subsidies and eliminating obstacles to commerce while using trade to improve living standards in developing countries.
The West African cotton producers want the meeting to fix a date for the removal of cotton subsidies.
Power said that the EU wanted its cotton offers to be implemented at once after the conclusion of Doha round while the Americans want to postpone it.
marketing@alchempro.com
