No more free ride for China, India & Brazil, demands Allister
24 April 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister used a debate in the European Parliament on the structures of the WTO to attack the fact that, despite their burgeoning economies, China, India and Brazil are, within the WTO framework treated as "developing countries" and in consequence get favoured treatment. "Developing countries" should mean exactly that, said Mr Allister, but not those rich in resources, flourishing in output and leading the world in manufacturing production. With developing country status comes exemptions, favourable treatment and lower levels of commitment. "All this", says Mr Allister, "gives China, India and Brazil unwarranted advantage and allows them to take the rest of the world for a ride in the WTO negotiations."
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
"The WTO has many flaws, but surely its most ludicrous defect is the unfair advantage which it gives China, India and Brazil by affording them the favourable status of "developing countries". They once might have been emerging economies, but today they have very definitely emerged and can compete with the best. Indeed so successful are they that they are world leaders in several fields, yet, inexplicably we give them a free ride as "developing countries" and in consequence accept lower standards and commitments from them.
Little wonder, my constituents often see the WTO as not meeting or serving their interests - a feeling which is accentuated when they watch unmatched concession after concession on agricultural issues by Commissioner Mandelson. Commissioner, getting the right deal is more important than getting a deal. And it won't be the right deal if it washes away our agri-food industry under an incoming tide of cheap imports from countries we treat more favourably than their robust economic capacity requires."
