Michael D. Higgins
Question:70 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the recent summit of the World Trade Organisation in Seattle. [3498/00]
Written Answers. - WTO Summit.
The Third WTO Ministerial Conference, which took place in Seattle from 30 November to 3 December 1999, was not successful in reaching agreement on the launch of a new round of trade liberalisation negotiations for a variety of reasons. It is now clear that more preparations are needed before a new round can be embarked upon.
The existing WTO agreements pre-commit members to certain follow-on reviews and negotiations across the so-called built-in-agenda topics covering services, agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, intellectual property, TRIPS, technical barriers to trade, government procurement, investment measures, TRIMS and textiles, 2001 and 2004. Negotiations in these areas have to take place, beginning in 2000, and, in line with the general philosophy of the WTO, should result in increased liberalisations.
In the absence of a general round of trade negotiations, the immediate focus within the WTO will be on these built-in-agenda issues. Negotiations in these areas will be conducted through the existing WTO groups in Geneva under the direction of the WTO General Council.
Ireland, in association with our European Union partners, will be participating fully in the Geneva process. We continue to remain committed to the launch of a comprehensive new round involving a broad range of issues. It is our 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.