[asia-apec 1492] Mike Moore on G8 and WTO Round

[APEC Monitoring Group]

DG Moore welcomes G-8 statement on new trade round.
Press Release World Trade Organisation 24/07/00 08:34:00


DG Moore welcomes G-8 statement on launch of new trade round.


World Trade Organization Director General Mike Moore today (23 July 2000)
welcomed the statement from leaders of the Group of Eight industrial
countries that a round of multilateral trade negotiations should commence
this year. A trade round, Mr. Moore said, offers the best way to ensure
balanced negotiations which reflect the interests and concerns of all WTO
member governments.


Mr. Moore said it was vital for Canada, the European Union, Japan and the
United States to agree on the way forward in launching such a round, but he
made it very clear that agreement among the "Quad" is not sufficient for a
successful launch. He stressed that there could be no trade round unless
such talks were supported by developing country governments and unless more
flexibility on difficult issues is shown by all sides.


"It would be a splendid thing if we could launch a round this year. I
welcome the fact that such an important group of world leaders has cast a
spotlight on the importance of such negotiations to the people of the world.
This is an important step.


"But the WTO makes all of its important decisions by consensus and while
agreement on a package of negotiations from the Group of Eight is welcome,
there can be no launch of talks without support from the world's developing
countries. It is through a round that our organization can achieve a
balanced agreement that enables us tackle to the many problems and concerns
affecting the world's citizens. Only through a round can you get the
trade-offs that benefit the smallest and most vulnerable societies."


ENDS