BARROSO TO RAISE TRADE, CLIMATE CHANGE ON US TRIP
01.8.07 - Leído 107 veces. Enviar esta notaLucia Kubosova
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso is in Washington today to discuss the Doha world trade talks and climate change - but analysts and officials doubt his trip will bring a breakthrough on either topic
BRUSSELS. Belgium; January 8, 2007.- “The moment of truth for the Doha trade negotiations is fast approaching and the US holds the key to making a deal possible in 2007,” Mr Barroso said in a statement ahead of his visit. “The alternative, a delay of several years, would come at a high price for all.”
He was referring to the end-June deadline when US legislation - which allows the White House to negotiate trade deals that cannot be changed by Congress - expires. Commentators expect the new Democrat-led Congress will not agree to renew the Republican president George W. Bush’s trade mandate.
The world trade talks that began in Doha, Qatar, in 2001, with the aim of relaxing global trade restrictions, have been frozen since last July with all parties insisting they want more concessions, especially on farm subsidies.
The Doha trade negotiations also featured high on the agenda when German chancellor Angela Merkel and George W. Bush met in the White House last Thursday.
“We’re committed to the Doha round,” president Bush said at a press conference after the meeting, adding “I believe we can get a deal done. It’s just going to take a lot of will and a lot of hard work to do it.”
But a spokeswoman for the US trade representative’s office in Washington downplayed expectations for Monday’s meeting with Mr Barroso, telling Reuters that “We’re not expecting any breakthroughs.”
Europe and the United States are the biggest players in the trade talks and have both faced criticism for protectionist measures in agriculture. The two powers represent 40 percent of world trade.
Climate change and EU-US partnership
Again echoing the German chancellor, Mr Barroso also wants to highlight climate change concerns linked to carbon emissions and the initiatives that Europe is carrying out to prevent further environmental damage.
The US president reiterated last week that he is committed to “promoting new technologies that will promote energy efficiency and do a better job protecting the environment.”
But he added “I believe there is a chance now to put behind us the old stale debates of the past,” referring to previous differences between his administration and the EU about the Kyoto agreement - an international pact aiming to cut pollution, which has not been ratified by the US.
The European Commission is set to unveil a new study about the consequences of climate change for Europe this week.
According to the Financial Times, the draft paper predicts that droughts and floods caused by climate change will kill 90,000 people a year by 2071 and damage from rising sea levels will cost tens of billions of euros.
Bilateral trade ties
Mr Barroso is also expected to join Ms Merkel’s call for an upgraded trade partnership between the EU and US.
The German EU presidency is set to promote the case for breaking down regulatory barriers - initially concerning financial markets, patent and intellectual property law - during its six-month stint at the bloc’s helm.
US officials have given cautious approval to the ideas, stressing they need to see if they have wider backing among EU member states.
(EUobserver)
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