'Time running out in trade talks with ex-European colonies'
Thursday, 13 September 2007
BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (AFP): EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson warned yesterday he could not "pull a rabbit out of the hat" to save talks on new trade pacts with ex-European colonies ahead of a looming deadline.
The 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific rim countries making up the so-called ACP group and the European Union are struggling to conclude the new agreements by the end of the year, when a current preferential market access accord is due to expire.
"I have no hat and no rabbit to pull out of it," Mandelson told the European Parliament's international trade committee.
"If we have no new trade regime in place by the end of this year in each of the regions-and that means effectively initialling an agreement by around the end of October-the Commission has no legal option but to offer the region concerned (less generous trade) preferences," he added.
Existing trade agreements giving preferential market access to ACP countries have to be replaced by the end of the year because the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled that they were illegal.
The European Commission, which negotiates trade deals on its members' behalf, is conducting the talks with regions because of the large number of countries involved.
The 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific rim countries making up the so-called ACP group and the European Union are struggling to conclude the new agreements by the end of the year, when a current preferential market access accord is due to expire.
"I have no hat and no rabbit to pull out of it," Mandelson told the European Parliament's international trade committee.
"If we have no new trade regime in place by the end of this year in each of the regions-and that means effectively initialling an agreement by around the end of October-the Commission has no legal option but to offer the region concerned (less generous trade) preferences," he added.
Existing trade agreements giving preferential market access to ACP countries have to be replaced by the end of the year because the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled that they were illegal.
The European Commission, which negotiates trade deals on its members' behalf, is conducting the talks with regions because of the large number of countries involved.