ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - The Croatian government has expressed concern over failed negotiations on the liberalisation of the world market between developed and developing countries at last week's ministerial conference of the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) in Mexico.
ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - The Croatian government has expressed
concern over failed negotiations on the liberalisation of the world
market between developed and developing countries at last week's
ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in
Mexico. #L#
"It is worrisome to see that the global trade system among countries
has been brought into question, and that there is a lack of
sensibility of the developed world towards needs of developing
countries," Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said at the government's
session on Thursday.
The premier said Croatia should now consider all consequences of
the unsuccessful negotiations of the WTO ministerial meeting,
which took place in Cancun, Mexico on 10-14 September. Racan
described it as one of biggest problems of this century.
The Croatian ministers of European integration and economy, Neven
Mimica and Ljubo Jurcic respectively, who took part in the WTO
conference, briefed the government on the course of the talks at
that event.
Mimica said that non-adoption of a joint declaration on global
market liberalisation had two kinds of effects on Croatia. Thus,
the postponement in deciding on cuts in customs tariffs was
favourable for the country. On the other hand, it is not good to see
that the collapse of the WTO talks in Cancun has undermined the
trade system, Mimica explained.
It is now obvious that the deadline for the completion of the
negotiations on the issue by the end of 2004 is not real due to
different stands of developed and developing countries, the
Croatian minister said adding that global agreement is not likely
to be reached before Croatia's admission into the EU.
Minister Jurcic said that as the result of the failed negotiations,
no declaration on global liberalisation in trade of products and
goods was adopted. Instead, a ministerial statement was passed, and
it was agreed that the negotiations would resume at the next WTO
conference in Geneva.
Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac suggested that at one of its
following sessions the government should consider consequences of
the collapse of the Cancun negotiations and draft measures
important for Croatia's export and import in this situation.
(hina) ms