Vol. 431 No. 4
7 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the matters discussed at the meeting of EC Trade Ministers on 5 April 1993; the progress that was made in regard to the GATT talks; if he will give his views on the prospects for a successful conclusion to the GATT talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Donegal South-West): At the General Affairs Council on 5 April 1993, Trade Ministers discussed the Uruguay Round and current issues in the Community's bilateral relations with the US, following a wide-ranging report to the meeting by Commission Vice President, Sir Leon Brittan on his meeting with US Trade Representative Kantor on 29 March 1993.
In relation to the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations, Sir Leon reported that the US has indicated they wanted to reach agreement on the round by the end of 1993. This seemingly more positive attitude of the US Administration was welcomed by member state Ministers, including the Irish Minister, although the overall US approach was still far from clear and the possibility remained of further impediments to progress in the round.
Since the Council of 5 April, there have been further discussions in the matter between the Community and the US, and the round was also discussed at a quadrilateral meeting, involving the EC, US, Canada and Japan, on 14 May. In addition, the US Administration has applied to Congress for extension of the fast-track negotiating mandate which would be required for the US to meet the deadline of concluding the round by the end of this year.
The major participants in the negotiations are clearly making considerable efforts to reach an agreement and, therefore, the prospects for a successful conclusion to the round must be enhanced. As indicated when the matter was debated in this House in February, and in replies to parliamentary questions in the meantime, the Government remains fully committed to achieving a successful and balanced Uruguay Round Agreement as a means of boosting the world economy and contributing to a stable and well regulated world trading environment.
Will the Minister define what he means by a balanced approach to the world economy? When he talks about development of the world economy is he including the Third World in the equation, given that the current row appears to be between the rich nations? The EC is battling with the United States and Canada about a share of the spoils of world trade. It seems there is too much emphasis on that area while virtually three quarters of the world living in poverty seem to be relegated to the back burner.
Ceist le do thoil.
What efforts is the Irish Government making within the European Community to ensure that trade, when finally regulated under the Uruguay Round, will enhance the prospects of the people of the Third World surviving?
(Donegal South-West): Ireland is fully committed to achieving a successful conclusion — which must be global and balanced — to the Uruguay Round of negotiations. We must ensure there is equality and that all the participating countries are involved in liberalisation commitments. It is not only in agriculture that difficult problems remain to be resolved in the negotiations. A vast amount of work still has to be done in other areas such as services and market access before this global and balanced outcome can be achieved. I assure the Deputy and the House that it is a priority for us to look after the best interests of the country, within the EC framework, and the negotiations. In turn we want to see this global and balanced outcome.
The general public could be forgiven for believing that the only concern of this Government relates to agriculture and defending the Common Agricultural Policy in view of the fact that this is the only issue on which it has taken a stand. Will the Minister specify what stand has been taken by this Government on the multifibre agreements which, clearly, are seriously damaging Third World economies and costing them in money terms, as much as the rich world pumps into them in terms of development aid?
The Deputy is coming from the general to the particular.
The arrangements are very much part of the GATT.
(Donegal South-West): The question is a very general one. I do not have specific information in relation to the multifibre agreements but I shall certainly make it available to Deputy De Rossa as soon as possible.
Deputy John Connor was offering earlier.
No farming interest in this country is happy with the agricultural agreement reached by the former EC Commissioner for agricultural and rural affairs with the United States within the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. What is the Government's present position in relation to the agreement reached between the Commission, on behalf of the EC, and the United States within the GATT framework?
(Donegal South-West): I presume Deputy Connor is referring to the Blair House agreement in relation to agriculture — the agreement reached between the EC and the US representatives. That agreement has not yet been discussed — it has been sent to Geneva — by the Council of Ministers on the EC side or by Congress on the US side but I hope it will in the not too distant future. It will be a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry to take a view on it.
As the Minister with responsibility for trade perhaps he will inform the House what position we will be putting forward at any future discussion on it.
(Donegal South-West): The Deputy will accept that this is a question for negotiation at the highest possible level. I would certainly not support such a debate at this early stage. There will be further opportunities and we should not show our hand too early.
I hope that is not a copout.
In informing me at a later stage of the Government's position on multifibre agreements, will the Minister indicate what stance the Government will take in relation to this matter in the current negotiations? Will he provide an opportunity, either in this House or in one of the committees which we have recently established, for an in-depth debate on the direction of the Uruguay Round of negotiations and the input the Irish Government is having in those discussions?
(Donegal South-West): I will ensure that as much information as possible is made available to the Deputy in relation to the multifibre agreement. His strong views in relation to an opportunity to discuss these matters at committee level will be made known to the Minister for Tourism and Trade on his return.
In view of its importance to Ireland, and indeed to Europe, will the Minister briefly outline the present position in regard to Mr. Peter Sutherland's appointment as Supremo of GATT? Will he ask the Taoiseach to have a debate on that announcement when it is made?
(Donegal South-West): It is well known, and I am pleased to be in a position to put it on record, that Mr. Peter Sutherland has been nominated by Ireland and by the EC as a candidate for the post of Director General of GATT to succeed Mr. Dunkel who is retiring in July. We are aware that he is being strongly supported by the US and by a large number of GATT members. There are two other candidates for the post but it is generally considered that Mr. Sutherland will be appointed. I believe he is eminently suitable for this job. It is a great credit to him that he has been nominated as a candidate and we in this country should be very proud.
