Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 2

Written Answers. - Trade Negotiations.

Dan Neville

Question:

54 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that that, in all cases where there was a dispute regarding the priority of trade over environmental considerations, the World Trade Organisation has ruled against protection of the environment; and her views on whether a further round of World Trade Organisations trade negotiations will further weaken the right of Ireland and other countries to protect their natural environments. [23954/99]

Enda Kenny

Question:

56 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of cases where a World Trade Organisation ruling has given priority to trade over environmental considerations; the Government's position in view of the forthcoming WTO trade negotiation round; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24067/99]

Richard Bruton

Question:

59 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the disappointment of Comhlámh with the questions relating to the World Trade Organisation and its desire to submit a series of supplementary questions to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23912/99]

Tony Gregory

Question:

61 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland will advocate in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle on 30 November 1999 that special provision for developing countries will be based on human development indicators and provisions regarding investment liberalisation will be balanced by measures protecting the rights of citizens and increasing the responsibilities of foreign investors; and if Ireland will raise the issue of the failure to implement commitments made under the previous Uruguay round and the need to give priority to environmental protection where there is conflict between trade and environmental considerations. [23941/99]

Dan Neville

Question:

62 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the basis on which the assertion in Dáil Éireann on 5 October 1999 by the Minister of State with responsibility of Trade that a further round of World Trade Organisation's trade liberalisation is the best way to promote equitable growth and development and to respond to the interests, in particular, of the developing countries; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is impossible to have assessed the impact of the previous Uruguay round upon these poorest countries in view of the fact they have to implement their commitments made under that round. [23955/99]

Dan Neville

Question:

63 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will give assurances that Ireland will advocate that any provisions regarding investment liberalisation and the rights of investors will also be balanced by measures increasing the responsibilities of foreign investors and protecting the rights of citizens in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that these issues are of particular importance to countries which are more host than home to investment. [23956/99]

Dan Neville

Question:

64 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will give assurance that Ireland will advocate that the special provision for developing countries will not be based on longer implementation time periods and also on human development indicators in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle. [23957/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 55, 56, 59, 61, 62, 63 and 64 together.

All the questions relate to the World Trade Organisation, and to the upcoming third WTO ministerial conference in Seattle. The questions cover the areas of developing countries' interests, investment and the environment.

It is expected that the third WTO ministerial conference will take the necessary decisions to launch a millennium round of trade negotiations across a broad range of trade issues. It is likely that these negotiations would commence in 2000 and be completed within a specified timeframe. The position of developing countries, investment and environment all feature in the WTO preparatory run-up to Seattle along with other issues, including, for example, agriculture, services, tariffs, competition, intellectual property, trade facilitation, e-commerce, government procurement, technical barriers to trade and core labour standards.

WTO members are currently trying to finalise a ministerial declaration for adoption at Seattle which will cover the scope and modalities of the proposed negotiations. This process is proving to be slow as many Members are trying to influence the outcome of the negotiations before they start.

Ireland's position on the new round has been developed in co-operation with our European Union partners, in keeping with our treaty obligations, and EU submissions have been made to the WTO outlining the Union's views on the new round. The EU approach has been to call for a comprehensive round of trade negotiations involving a broad range of issues. It is my belief that this is the best way to address the challenges resulting from rapid and far-reaching economic changes, to manage properly and effectively the globalisation process, to promote equitable growth and development and to respond in a balanced manner to the interests of all WTO members, in particular the developing countries.

Addressing the concerns of developing countries is a key strategy in the EU approach to the new round. Special and differential treatment for developing countries is already a cornerstone of existing WTO agreements and in the new round there is a need to examine how these provisions can be implemented or changed so as to have a better impact for developing countries. The traditional approach has mainly been to base special and differential treatment for developing countries on extended implementation periods. Other methods, including human development indicators, can be examined during the future negotiations.

In addition to special and differential treatment, Ireland, along with the EU, will sponsor a call for duty and tariff free market access for products from least developed countries to all markets by 2003. Capacity building, technical assistance and coherence between international bodies have also been identified by the EU as a contribution to the developing countries concerns.

Developing countries themselves are actively involved in addressing their particular concerns for the new round and considerable time has been spent on implementation issues in the discussions on the draft ministerial declaration. Given that the WTO operates by consensus, the approval of developing countries to any final arrangements will be essential before the negotiations can be successfully concluded.

Ireland with the EU has called for the new round negotiations to cover investment. We are seeking the establishment of a multilateral framework of rules governing international investment world-wide. A framework of multi-lateral rules for investment has to ensure the right conditions for international investment to be conducive to sustainable development. Such a framework should preserve the ability of host countries to regulate the activity of investors, whether foreign or domestic, on their territory, for the achievement of legitimate policy objectives. Given that the ability to open a country's domestic market to international investment differs greatly among WTO members, Ireland believes that a bottom-up approach to the question of admission, based on commitments undertaken by each member, is the way to allow for the flexibility that many WTO members require.

A central benchmark of the new round should be the WTO's overall objective of sustainable development. Trade and environment policies should play a mutually supportive role in favour of sustainable development. Environmental considerations should be addressed throughout the negotiations so as to achieve by the end of the Round an overall outcome where environmentally friendly consequences can be identified in the relevant parts of the final package. In the negotiations, priority should be given to establishing greater legal clarity on the relationship between WTO rules and trade measures taken pursuant to multilateral environmental agreements. Consensus should be sought on the accommodation within WTO rules of trade measures taken pursuant to MEAs. Clarification is also necessary of the relationship between WTO rules and non-product related process and production methods requirements and, in particular, eco-labelling schemes. Clarification is also required in order to secure within the relevant WTO rules, the importance of the precautionary principle and to agree on multilateral criteria for the scope of action possible under the principle.