Letter: EC stumbling blocks to Gatt agreement
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Having just returned from a week in Washington discussing with a variety of interested groups and individuals the problems of Gatt (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), may I make the following comments?
The Americans remain unconvinced that the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) reforms will reduce cereal surpluses, as do I and many of my colleagues. But the US is not so much concerned as to what European Community farmers are paid in compensation, as what effect the compensation has on cereal surpluses.
They accept that Europe wishes to be self-sufficient in food supplies but dumping surpluses on to the world market is not acceptable. Agreement on the volume of subsidised exports is now less of a problem and is surmountable. However, the main stumbling block is what the EC does about its oilseeds production. The US will not sign a new Gatt agreement while, as they see it, the EC refuses to adhere to existing Gatt rules.
It is obvious that the US is prepared for a trade war unless the EC accepts the Gatt ruling on oilseeds. All that is lacking to prevent this is the political will.
For the Council of Ministers to agree on this issue, it only needs a qualified majority, not unanimity. Therefore a solution from the Community is possible given the political will. The problem is, that European agriculture is once again setting the agenda, even though it accounts for less than 5 per cent of the Community's GDP. What a tragedy for world trade, jobs and employment opportunities.
Yours sincerely
TERRY WYNN
MEP for Merseyside East (Lab)
St Helens,
Merseyside
23 October
The writer is chairman of the Land Use and Food Policy Intergroup of the European Parliament.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments