LITHUANIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER: WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO ESTABLISH A STABLE TRADE REGIME WITH KEY PARTNERS
As the Doha Round negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on reducing global trade barriers are brought to a standstill, the European Union has to actively negotiate with key trading partners on a bilateral basis, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said during the meeting of the EU Trade Ministers on 21 February in Brussels. During the event, priorities for EU’s common trade policy were discussed taking into account the goals of the new EU 2020 Strategy for economic growth and employment, the EU’s recovering economy and the Lisbon Treaty which had entered into force.
Minister A.Ažubalis welcomed new member of the European Commission Karel De Gucht, who is responsible for trade issues and took over the coordination of the EU’s relations with the U.S.A. and China within the Transatlantic Economic Council and the EU-China High Level Dialogue.
The Minister stressed that Lithuania was waiting for the European Union and South Korea free trade agreement to enter into force and urged the European Commission to continue negotiating on bilateral free trade agreements with other trading partners, including the EU’s closest neighbours.
Minister A.Ažubalis highlighted the need to improve the EU’s relations with Russia, which is the EU’s third largest trading partner. According to the Minister, the European Commission has to find ways to stabilize trade relations with this country.
“We trust that the European Commission will consolidate the EU’s negotiating power and will find the necessary leverage in negotiations with Russia. Russia’s membership in the WTO must remain a priority,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.
According to him, in protecting oneself from unfair trade policy, including the policy of dual prices for energy resources, we have to effectively use the instruments of trade protection. The key incentive for their application has to be a goal to create and maintain equivalent competitive conditions for the EU’s businesses.
The new European Commission started its work on 10 February.
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