Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 3

Written Answers. - WTO Meeting.

Enda Kenny

Question:

98 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the forthcoming round of World Trade Organisation trade discussions on trade liberalisation will promote equitable growth and development, in particular for the developing countries, in view of the fact that many of these countries have not assessed the impact of the previous Uruguay round and commitments have not been met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24072/99]

Enda Kenny

Question:

99 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government's position in respect of the forthcoming World Trade Organisation round to be held in Seattle; if any provisions regarding investment liberalisation and the rights of investors will be balanced by measures increasing the responsibilities of foreign investors and protecting the rights of citizens; 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24073/99]

Enda Kenny

Question:

100 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in respect of the Government's attendance at the forthcoming World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle, the special provision for developing countries will not be based solely on longer implementation time periods but also in consideration of human development indicators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24074/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 to 100, inclusive, together.

These questions relate to the World Trade Organisation, WTO, and to the upcoming Third WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle. The questions cover the areas of developing countries' interests and investment.

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 and investment feature in the WTO preparatory run-up to Seattle along with other issues, including, for example, agriculture, services, tariffs, competition, environment, electronic commerce, intellectual property, trade facilitation, 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 the best way to address the challenges resulting from rapid and far-reaching economic changes is 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 worldwide. A framework of multilateral 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.