Statement by Karel De Gucht on Trade Facilitation Agreement
The EU and the WTO Brussels, 4 August 2014
"I regret that WTO members could not adopt the Trade Facilitation Agreement by 31 July as we had all agreed in Bali in December. The EU remains fully committed to the WTO and was ready to adopt the necessary decisions. We will now engage in reflection with other WTO members and the WTO Director-General on the implications of this failure." — Karel De Gucht
The EU deeply regrets that the WTO was not able to adopt the Trade facilitation Protocol within the agreed deadline of 31 July, despite the overwhelming support of almost all members of the WTO. The failure to adopt the Trade Facilitation Protocol goes against the decisions supported by all WTO members in Bali in December last year.
The EU applauds the enormous efforts by the WTO Director-General Azevedo to find a solution among members. Members were close to reaching an agreement. The EU would have been ready to support any solution that would respect the substance of the agreements reached in Bali, in particular on food security.
WTO members now need to reflect on the implications of this failure to adopt the Trade Facilitation Protocol. The EU will engage fully in these reflections with other WTO members.
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