WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(99)/ST/30
1 December 1999
(99-5226)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Third Session
Seattle, 30 November - 3 December 1999Original:  English
ITALY
Statement by the Honourable Piero Fassino
Minister of  Foreign Trade
Thirteen years have elapsed since the beginni ng of the Uruguay Round and the international
economic scenario changed much faster than what people could perceive.
On the other hand, it is meaningful that the Ministerial Conference and the Millennium
Round, which we are about to launch, are followed by media, public opinion, parliaments and civil
societies with an unparalleled attention compared to the previous Rounds.
One can say that the Millennium Round will be the real "first negotiation of the globalization
era".
Clearly, every big change brings about uncertainties, fear and an instinctive defense response
which highlight in particular the risks and costs of globalization.  We need to go beyond this
defensive attitude.
Globalization is not a policy that can be considered right or wrong.  It is an unavoidable
historical process.  Globalization exists and will be more and more pervasive.  The problem is not to
reject it but to steer it.
Given the inadequate rules to steer the international economy there are those who blame
WTO as if it were the cause of this lack.
We must be careful;  it is not WTO that creates globalization.  On the contrary, it is
globalization that requires rules and institutions so that not only trade but also growth and progress
can be global.  And if WTO seems too weak it is necessary to provide it with more powers and tools
to turn it really into an "institution of global governance".
As essential step to strengthen the WTO regulatory function is to make it take on a really
worldwide dimension.  For this reason we welcome the joining by new Members and the important
strides made in the accession process by China and hope that also the negotiations with other
countries will be speeded up.
We cannot neglect that the Uruguay Round has been experienced by most less advanced
countries as an instrument first of all industrialized countries could benefit from.  The possibility that
the Millennium Round is really successful is based, therefore, on the overcoming of this mistrust and
this can be achieved by taking into account various approaches and interests.  International
negotiations this Ministerial Conference will launch aim precisely at this:  building more robust and
transparent rules for globalization to achieve a system that can actually promote a reallocation ofWT/MIN(99)/ST/30
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benefits, resources and opportunities the largest possible number of countries can benefit from, in
particular the less advanced ones.
The European Union is particularly interested in a further opening of markets and is called
upon to fulfill the committing and demanding task of not only protecting legitimate economicinterests but also of contributing in organizing th e international economy in a way that it can provide
new and wider opportunities for growth.
The announcement here in Seattle that export barriers for the 48 poorest countries of the
world are being eliminated would represent a sign of considerable strength.  Precisely the size of
globalization processes demands from us not to confine ourselves only to carrying on the negotiations
on the two issues already discussed within WTO - agriculture and services – but to broadening thenegotiation to encompass "a global approach" includi ng the main trade policy issues worldwide.  And,
in line with this global approach is the need that the negotiation is finalized with a "single
undertaking".
It is certainly necessary to discuss agricultural prices and trade along the line of a progressive
and gradual liberalization of markets that must be accompanied by a regulation of the export credit
system.  In this framework it is necessary to guarantee a suitable protection of quality or typically
local productions.
Moreover, the new frontiers in the genetic research raise the issue of rules that, without
hindering scientific progress and its possible benefits, can, however, protect citizens health.  This
should be guaranteed by acknowledging the right for countries to appeal to "the precautionary
principle" each time the concrete possibility of a risk is not scientifically excluded.
However, as of now it is necessary to work in the sector of labeling so to guarantee correct
information for consumers.
Other equally important trade issues need, however, to be discussed:
• Market access duties;
• elimination of non-tariff barriers whereby protectionist forms are surreptitiously 
reintroduced;
• protection of intellectual property, of brand-names and patents against many forms of 
unfair competition, counterfeiting and forgery;
• multilateral competition rules and rules regulating investments.
Cultural productions require a separate discussion.Each cultural product must take into account the market and its logic but it is also made up of
identity, history and culture.
This is why it is necessary for audiovisual products not to be subject to a general
liberalization by acknowledging the right to protect the "cultural identity" that does not mean resortingback to protectionism.  It is rather a possibility whereby competitiveness and competition do not
prevent cultural identities from surviving, mu ltiplying and spreading with their peculiarities.
The Millennium Round, however, cannot simply be a trade negotiation.WT/MIN(99)/ST/30
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As a matter of fact, the huge growth in trade, production and investments poses increasingly
the absolute need for a "sustainable development".  Therefore, trade negotiations must reach
conclusions that are consistent with internatio nal Agreements in the environmental sector.  An
important signal that could be launched from here would be an invitation to create an international
and ad hoc institution for environmental issues, similar to WHO and ILO.
The most critical and sensitive social aspect should be tackled with this same spirit;  the
protection of labour rights, starting from the weakest sectors – such as minors and women – that are
the most exposed to intolerable forms of exploitation, when not real modern slavery.
We know how sensitive this issue is for less advanced countries.  Therefore, it is necessary to
identify fora that can single out forms and tools to tackle such a crucial issue with the activecontribution of less advanced countries.  Italy believes that an ad hoc Working Group within WTO or
even at an ILO/WTO forum could be useful.  Anyway, a close cooperation between ILO and WTO is
necessary.  What matters is that the issue of social rights is dealt with in a constructive manner by
working out positive measures for training and technical assistance to help those countries to change
their legislation in order to increasingly protect the work of the weakest groups in society.
To conclude, we are faced with an ambitious objective:  to see to it that a global economy is
matched by a global progress.
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