§ Barbara FollettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of the second Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva from 18 to 20 May. [46423]
§ Mrs. BeckettI attended the second Ministerial Conference in Geneva from 18 to 20 May, with the Minister for Trade. The Prime Minister attended the Heads of Government event on 19 May, marking 50 years of the GATT, about which he made a statement in this House on 20 May 1998,Official Report, columns 955–70.
The Conference recognised the critical importance of the rules-based multilateral system and WTO member countries paid tribute to the contribution which that system has made to economic growth, employment and stability across the world. They also joined in a rejection of protectionist measures and made a commitment to keeping markets open in the face of difficulties as a result of disturbances in financial markets. In addition, they emphasised that full and faithful implementation of WTO Agreements and Decisions was imperative for the credibility of the multilateral trading system. At the same time, WTO members renewed their commitment to ensuring that the benefits of the multilateral system were extended as widely as possible and pointed to the urgent need to address the marginalisation of least developed countries, to improve market access for them, and in the wake of economic change to assist them to manage social change.
There was also recognition of the importance of enhancing public understanding of the benefits of trade liberalisation, building support for it and improving the transparency of the WTO.
The Conference was significant in looking ahead to the future composition and shape of multilateral trade liberalisation. The text of the Ministerial Declaration points to the need for sufficiently broad-based liberalisation to respond to the interests and concerns of all Members. In preparation for this, WTO members agreed to launch a wide ranging process, beginning in September this year, so as to be ready to take decisions at the third Ministerial Conference on the scope, structure and timeframes of future negotiations. This was central to the UK's and EU' s objectives for the Conference. This process will include the range of issues to which the UK and EU attach importance in the context of future comprehensive multilateral negotiations, including agriculture, services, industrial tariffs, technical barriers to trade, investment, competition, trade facilitation and government procurement.
It was agreed that the third Ministerial Conference will be held in the US towards the end of 1999.
In interventions during the course of the Conference, British and other Ministers recognised the need to consider the environmental impact of their policies, 159W including their trade policies, while ensuring that trade rules were not used to impose unfair standards on developing countries or to discriminate against their exports. Separately, Ministers in their interventions also clearly recognised the importance of core labour standards, the avoidance of the exploitation of children and the important role for the ILO in furthering the international advancement of these goals.
In addition, WTO Members agreed to establish a comprehensive work programme to examine all trade-related issues relating to global electronic commerce. Members also agreed to continue their current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions.
Copies of both of the Ministerial Declarations from the Conference will be deposited in both Houses.