WTO negotiations
Reply by Ms Christine Lagarde to a question in the National Assembly (Paris, 30 May 2006)
"The hard line of the Americans, who want to open their partners’ markets and, above all, flood all the developing countries’ markets with their products, while continuing to give their agricultural sector substantial subsidies, explains the total deadlock in the negotiations. This maximalist position is incompatible with the Round’s development objectives and is, of course, at odds with the Common Agricultural Policy. Everyone has to take a step: Europe has already taken three; it’s waiting for the others to start moving. There are increasing numbers of us, in the WTO, saying: it is the United States and not Europe who is blocking the negotiations."
They spoke about : custom tariffs, liberalization, farm subsidies, cultural exception, economic patriotism, globalization, dispute settlement procedure, Bolivia, and Southern countries development.
WTO meeting in Hong Kong (December 2005)
"France isn’t at all isolated. 14 out of 25 States signed a letter supporting the CAP reform sent to the Commission by Dominique Bussereau and his opposite numbers. Here France isn’t defending her special interests but the general interest, and principles. When she defends the CAP, France is defending a European vision."
Clarifications about the general affairs/external relations council in Luxembourg (october 20, 2005)
"France’s objective of verifying that Commissioner Mandelson was staying within the limits set by the council’s mandate, that is, the limits proceeding from the 1999 and 2003 CAP reforms, was met."
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ICAO