ICC calls for progress on WTO preparatory trade talks

ICC calls for progress on WTO preparatory trade talks    The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce said Thursday it hopes the forthcoming Hong Kong ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization would achieve meaningful results.
   To ensure this, the International Chamber of Commerce recommended ways to make progress in the WTO’s so-called “Doha round” of trade negotiations in the lead-up to the key meeting of government ministers in Hong Kong, scheduled for December.
   In a policy statement, the International Chamber of Commerce said the priority issues should be:
   * Agreement on negotiating modalities for industrial market access.
   * Agreement on full negotiating modalities for trade in agriculture.
   * Urgent and substantive progress in the negotiations on trade in services.
   * Substantial progress on trade facilitation.
   * A balanced approach to the negotiations on antidumping and regional trade agreements.
   “ICC is concerned about the proliferation of bilateral and regional trading agreements,” said Maria Livanos Cattaui, secretary general of the Paris-based body. “Only a Doha round that achieves substantial multilateral trade liberalization can mitigate the effects of such agreements.”