The EU and the WTO negotiations
Agricultural issues will dominate the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Geneva this week. European Union (EU) countries differ in their dependence on agriculture, and on the ways they may be affected by the negotiations. The farm sector is relatively more important in some countries, notably France, and not so important in others. France's President Chirac has been distinctly skittish about the current draft framework for negotiations.
Today (Monday, July 26) the EU Foreign Ministers (through the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council) met and sought to paper over their different perspectives, confirming a joint negotiating position. The text resulting from their deliberations is here.
Tobias Buck and Frances Williams Financial Times report on the meeting, here:"EU seeks united front for global trade talks". The staff of the Deutsche Welle report, here: "EU Prepares for WTO Agriculture Talks".
Added link to text 7-27-04.
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