WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(98)/ST/65
18May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-2079)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Original: French
Second Session
Geneva, 18and20May1998
GREECE
Statement Circulated byH.E. Mr.A.Baltas,
Vice-Minister
Over thelast50years ofthemultilateral trading system, wehaveseenconsiderable progress
towards theliberalization ofcommercial exchanges. Thisistheframework inwhich tradeliberalization
isevolving. Nevertheless, much remains tobedonefortheachievement oftheobjectives setoutin
thepreamble totheMarrakesh Agreement Establishing theWTO, particularly asregards elimination
ofdiscriminatory practices ininternational trade relations.
Basing themselves ontheexperience acquired overthelastthreeyears, andinaccordance with
thenewinternational trade requirements, theMembers oftheWTO should initiate thedebate which
willleadtoanewglobal round oftrade negotiations. Agriculture occupies aspecial position inthis
context anditsimportance toMembers isconsiderable. Mystatement willbebriefandwillfocus
ontheagricultural sector.
WeareconvincedthattheAgreementsonagricultureandonsanitaryandphytosanitarymeasures
mustbehonoured before newnegotiations areundertaken. However, ourexperience uptonowwith
regard toimplementation oftheAgreement onAgriculture shows thatsome aspects havenotbeen
properly taken intoaccount orareincorrectly interpreted orevencircumvented.
The"peace clause" places every Member under anobligation toapply countervailing measures
withduerestraint. Weobserve, however, thatsuchmeasures havebeenapplied under circumstances
where theyarenotalways justified, which inourviewconstitutes adirect violation ofthecommitments
setoutintheclause. Webelieve thatthefuture review oftheAgreement should develop stricter rules
toprevent theunjustified useofthistypeofmeasure.
Agricultural policy reform isalong-term process thatfrequently goeshandinhandwithpainful
adjustments. Forthatreason, weattach particular importance totheprovisions concerning direct
paymentsunderoutputlimitationprogrammes.DuringtheUruguayRoundnegotiations,theseprovisions,
which aredesigned tofacilitate theadjustment andadaptation ofagricultural policies, werenotenvisaged
astransitional mechanisms, butrather asapermanent feature oftheAgreement. Anyeffort toweaken
these provisions canonlyhaveadverse consequences foragricultural policy reform.
Direct export subsidies arealready subject tostrict disciplines. However, contrary tothe
prescribed commitments andaftermore thanthree years ofimplementation oftheUruguay Round
Agreements, Members havenotyetdrawn upinternational rules ontheprovision ofexport credits
andexport credit guarantees. Itisnecessary forallWTO Members toabide bythiscommitment.
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Allow mealsotodraw yourattention totheclose links between agricultural policy andthe
environment. Trade liberalization andthereform ofagricultural policies frequently impinge onthe
relationship between agriculture andtheenvironment. Their impact iscomplex andnotnecessarily
positive. Forthatreason, anoverall approach should bedeveloped totheanalysis ofthenature of
those links. Inthisconnection, particular attention should bepaidtotheleast-developed regions,
particularly incountries where agriculture serves toprevent internal migration.
Public health, foodsecurity andconsumer protection should becentral toourconcerns. We
mustguarantee anappropriate levelofsanitary andphytosanitary safety without creating unnecessary
trade barriers. Scientific support, riskevaluation andrespect fortransparency form partofthe
mechanism bestsuited toensuring thisequilibrium. However, weobserve aproliferation ofthedangers
arising from theproduction methods usedtoday. Wemust offer consumers anappropriate levelof
protection andtakeaccount oftheirconcerns.
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