EU rapped for refusal to open agricultural market

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Tomas Aquino criticized yesterday the European Union for the continued refusal to open up its agricultural market while insisting that less developed countries adopt trade liberalization completely.

Aquino, who is the country’s chief international trade negotiator in the World Trade Organization (WTO), pointed out that forthcoming trade talks in Cancun, Mexico under the WTO cannot proceed successfully if the EU continues to refuse to include more agricultural products in its list of products for liberalization.

"Most likely, developing countries would counter by refusing to negotiate on further liberalization for goods and services," Aquino said.

The EU, Aquino complained, maintains heavy subsidies on its agriculture and farm sector. The EU reportedly provides a subsidy of as much as $100 a day per farmer.

"The attitude of the EU is causing apprehension on the part of developing countries about the WTO talks," Aquino said.

Aquino, questioned, "how can we move into the future of multilateral rules when the product range of developing countries are already limited and there are sanitary and phytosanitary as well as tariff measures in areas where we can compete head on and which the EU does not like to open," he added.

The Philippines is not alone in denouncing the EU.

New Zealand’s Trade and Agricultural Minister Jim Suton had also expressed disappointment over the EU’s heavy subsidy of its agricultural sector.

He urged the Philippines to work together with the Cairns Group in pushing for more market access.

The Cairns Group is composed mainly of developing countries.