The development of GPRS, UMTS or xDSL technologies is not worthwhile unless you have a sufficient market share on a worldwide level. As European Commissioner for trade, my mission is to identify those sectors where Europe is the most competitive, and to negotiate further market opening for them, with a view to promoting throughout the world, the adoption of these new technologies and standards. Prompt and proactive behaviour is key, since changing course in international trade is often very difficult if you have missed the first opportunity. I tried to put into practice these principles during my recent discussions with the Chinese authorities. I identified a strong European competitive advantage in mobile phones, especially with UMTS standard, then I chose to put pressure on China on this issue.
Free trade is a precondition for innovation.
But without a minimum set of common rules it may have ill effects which could, in fine, threaten the innovative process itself. The deepening of such a process requires first, common rules and standards in order to facilitate trade, and second, full compliance with other collective objectives, to make it sustainable. The less risky and uncertain the results of the business plan are, the easier it will be to convince the board, the lenders and the shareholders. I believe, once again, that in a globalized world international rules are essential to have a more predictable and less risky business legal environment. First international rules are necessary to enhance the effectiveness and certainty of the market opening, since technical barriers such as discriminating standards may annihilate de facto the positive effects of trade liberalisation.