Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 14 • Number 11 • 24th March 2010

EU Trade Commissioner Says US Should ‘Make a Move’ on Doha

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The European Union’s trade chief took fresh blows at the United States this week for holding up progress in global trade talks at the WTO, while also signalling that the EU is unwilling to make further market access concessions in agriculture.

Speaking at the London School of Economics on Monday, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht absolved Europe of responsibility for the Doha Round standstill. “The EU is still the biggest trader in the world … However, the truth is that negotiations are currently deadlocked because of disagreement between big players other than Europe.”

The United States in particular needs to “make a move” and “say what they want,” said De Gucht, who was formerly the EU’s Development Commissioner before assuming the office of Trade Commissioner in February.

At the same time, De Gucht ruled out any greater concessions on market access for agricultural products by the EU, explaining “we simply wouldn’t have political backing to go further.”

Nonetheless, he added that the EU would play a “constructive part” in an effort to reach a deal in 2010, which G20 leaders set as a goal last year. At this point, however, many observers say that deadline may already be out of reach (see related story, this issue).

De Gucht also took the opportunity to tout the EU as a leader in trade liberalisation, saying the EU’s FTAs are “broad and deep” and many years beyond the WTO. But he shrugged off allegations that the growth in regional free trade agreements was undermining the multilateral process.

“The creation of the WTO was shortly preceded by NAFTA and the completion of the [EU's] internal market. Bilateral progress is not a distraction but rather a springboard for global action,” said De Gucht.

The EU initialled an FTA with Korea in October, and earlier this month talks with Peru and Colombia wrapped up. Meanwhile, the EU is engaged in a range of FTA talks, including with India, Canada, Singapore and China.

ICTSD reporting; “US must make first move to jump-start Doha: EU,” Reuters, 22 March 2010.