Brussels, December 2 2005 – Yesterday, the European Parliament held that the World Trade Organization (WHO) conference in Hong Kong should have a "balanced outcome" that will lead to farm trade liberalization, but that will also include some progress in industrial product and service trading.

The full session of the European Parliament approved - by 475 votes for, 106 against and 14 abstentions – a resolution urging the Hong Kong meeting, slated to be held from December 13 to 18, to establish "the progressive and timely elimination of all developed nations´ subsidies on farm exports".

This reference was particularly made to the United States, which the European deputies want, in particular, to see follow the example of the European Union (EU) and do away with the subsidies on cotton exports – highly damaging to several African nations - before 2010.

This parliament also suggested a “significant” cut in tariffs on farm and meat imports and reaffirms its support to the EU´s "Common Agricultural Policy reform".

But, as maintained by the European Commission at the WHO round of talks, the Europeans deputies stressed that in Hong Kong "talks on nonagricultural product access to the market should be quickly sped up." Besides, the European deputies consider it "necessary that the Hong Kong ministerial meeting lay the foundation for an ambitious agreement on service trade", which will improve access of EU service providers to other nations, while respecting "the capacity of all WHO members" to build up a proper regulatory framework for their industries. European trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, warned that no advances would be made in Hong Kong if the WHO member nations do not respond to the EU farm concessions and lift their barriers on industrial products and services.


Gazeta Mercantil/Caderno A - Pg. 15 Dec.2.05)