RESOLUTION B3-1507/92

Resolution on the state of multilateral trade negotiations of the GATT Uruguay Round

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions of 11 October 199O on the stage reached in the multilateral trade regulations within the Uruguay Round of GATT, 13 December 199O on the Uruguay Round of GATT, 22 February 1991 on the stage reached in the multilateral trade regulations within the Uruguay Round of GATT and 13 February 1992 on the GATT Uruguay Round,

- having regard to the Commission statements of 3O October and 18 November 1992 on the state of the GATT negotiations,

1. Deplores the failure so far of the EC and US negotiators to bridge their last remaining differences over agriculture so that a global and balanced GATT Round can be concluded by the end of the year, and urges them to agree at their meeting in Washington this week;

2. Condemns unreservedly the US Government's action in issuing an ultimatum to launch a transatlantic trade war over oilseeds at a time of economic recession in Europe, America and, indeed, throughout the world;

3. Insists that waiting for the inauguration of the newly-elected US President is not a justifiable excuse for delaying further negotiations and calls on both sides to waste no time in trying to seek a balanced and fair compromise without resorting to trade sanctions;

4. Calls for solidarity among the EC Member States in order to strengthen the position of the Commission as the exclusive negotiator of the EC, and to arrive at an early conclusion of the Uruguay Round before the end of the year;

5. Calls on the Commission to acknowledge immediately its political responsibility for a successful conclusion of the negotiations by seeking a deal bilaterally as well as multilaterally, on the basis of the negotiating mandate from the Council for a global and balanced compromise, and by submitting it afterwards to the Council for approval;

6. Underlines again the global aspect of the negotiations, in which much more is at stake than just a remodelling of trade in agriculture which only represents approximately 12% of total world trade;

7. Points to the enormous advantages in terms of economic welfare and employment which a successful conclusion to the Uruguay Round would provide for the recovery of the world economy, currently on the brink of a recession;

8. Draws attention to the considerable advantages that may be expected in terms of ecological prosperity and employment from a GATT agreement that respects the environment and supports sustainable development in the poorest parts of the world;

9. Recalls that, since the failure of the Brussels Ministerial Conference in December 199O with regard to many important subjects, a broad agreement has been reached among all 1O8 participants in the negotiations of the Uruguay Round which will be at risk if the Community and the USA fail to work out a balanced compromise on trade in agriculture;

10. Disagrees with the attempt to separate trade in agriculture from the overall negotiation process, as was done during the Tokyo Round, since this would seriously affect the balance of advantages and concessions for many of the negotiating parties;

11. Insists that the European Community has contributed decisively to a successful conclusion of the ongoing GATT negotiations by adopting the recent common agricultural policy reform measures;

12. Is of the opinion that the reduction of subsidized exports of agricultural products both from the Community as foreseen by the CAP reform as well as from other trading partners will help to promote trade in general, secure a compromise in the Uruguay Round negotiations and develop agriculture in lesser developed countries;

13. Recalls the overwhelming importance a successful conclusion to the Uruguay Round will have for developing countries in terms of market access, tropical products, trade in agriculture, textiles and clothing;

14. Underlines the historic importance of the Uruguay Round for the protection of intellectual property and the liberalization of trade and services which would give a boost to employment in the Community; regrets however that in the case of services, it has only been possible to achieve partial liberalization;

15. Is concerned at the tendency to build up trade blocks and underlines the great importance of a successful conclusion to the Uruguay Round for the countries of the Third World, Central and Eastern Europe and the Republics of the CIS;

16. Appeals urgently to all participants of the Uruguay Round, but especially to the Community and the US, to realize the seriousness of the actual situation, to live up to their responsibility for the support and further development of a free and fair world trade system and to spare no effort, if necessary through a conference at the highest political level, to achieve a political breakthrough, which seems to be closer than ever in the light of advances made recently;

17. Strongly urges the Community and the US to resolve their bilateral differences over agriculture before the end of the year;

18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the United States, and the GATT Secretariat.