THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of
the Press Secretary
(Lisbon, Portugal)
| For
Immediate Release |
May 31,
2000 |
Fact Sheet
U.S.-EU Summit
Statement On A
New World Trade Organization Round
Since the last U.S.-EU
Summit in December, we have worked together in Geneva to rebuild confidence in
the WTO and the multilateral system, with particular reference to developing
countries. With our trade partners, we have agreed to a short-term package on
market access for the least developed countries, an implementation work
program, and on the high priority to be accorded to effective delivery of
technical assistance.
The U.S. and EU reaffirm their conviction that
the early launch of an inclusive new Round of WTO trade negotiations would
offer a major boost to global economic growth, employment and sustainable
development, but must address in a balanced way the concerns of all WTO
members.
The U.S. and EU pledge to build on the constructive work of
the last six months to try to launch such a new Round during the course of the
year. We have reiterated our common view that the WTO agenda should include the
social issues of labor and environment, not as a matter of protectionism, but
as a matter of social justice and sustainability. |
