Wto membership set for february
22 January 2008
Published in
Inform
issue #60
See the full issue here.
Last Wednesday Ukraine overcame the final hurdle to joining the 151-nation World Trade Organization (WTO), when Vice-Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria negotiated successfully an agreement on export duties with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in London. Finalizing the agreement paves the way to the formal acceptance of Ukraine’s accession request at the next meeting of the WTO general council in Geneva on 5-6 February.
See the full issue here.
Last Wednesday Ukraine overcame the final hurdle to joining the 151-nation World Trade Organization (WTO), when Vice-Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria negotiated successfully an agreement on export duties with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in London. Finalizing the agreement paves the way to the formal acceptance of Ukraine’s accession request at the next meeting of the WTO general council in Geneva on 5-6 February.
“Today we have achieved a compromise by solving an
issue on export duties which has remained a problem
since 2006,” said Mr Nemyria.
“This is a very historical day, a very important breakthrough, and I want to congratulate the Ukrainian participants in the talks on the results, and all of us – on the compromise,” said Mr Mandelson. “Today's agreement clears the way for Ukraine fully to join the world trading system.... This is the first step toward greater Ukrainian integration with the global and the European economy," added the former-British Cabinet Minister.
Mr Mandelson went on to say that he expected the EU to begin negotiations on establishing a free trade agreement with Ukraine. As with WTO accession, such an agreement is seen as an important stepping stone to eventual EU membership.
The breakthrough delivers on one of the key tenets of BYuT’s pre-election “Contract with Investors” and contrasts sharply with the approach of the former-prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, who failed to meet deadline opportunities and put WTO membership on a slow trajectory.
“This is a clear-cut case of delivering on a promise we made to the electorate,” said Mr Nemyria, “The old-era of protectionism does not work in today’s global economy. Protecting inefficient industry and jobs have been excuses for our oligarch clans for too long. Cynically manipulated import-export restrictions and high tariffs raise the price of goods, restrict choice and ultimately damage job prospects. Joining the WTO will open up markets previously denied to us and supports out goal for a stronger, more transparent economy based upon recognized international rules.”
Mr Nemyria also discussed Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s visit to Brussels on 28-29 January. During her visit – her first since becoming prime minister – she will meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Meetings are also scheduled with Mr Mandelson and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
“This is a very historical day, a very important breakthrough, and I want to congratulate the Ukrainian participants in the talks on the results, and all of us – on the compromise,” said Mr Mandelson. “Today's agreement clears the way for Ukraine fully to join the world trading system.... This is the first step toward greater Ukrainian integration with the global and the European economy," added the former-British Cabinet Minister.
Mr Mandelson went on to say that he expected the EU to begin negotiations on establishing a free trade agreement with Ukraine. As with WTO accession, such an agreement is seen as an important stepping stone to eventual EU membership.
The breakthrough delivers on one of the key tenets of BYuT’s pre-election “Contract with Investors” and contrasts sharply with the approach of the former-prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, who failed to meet deadline opportunities and put WTO membership on a slow trajectory.
“This is a clear-cut case of delivering on a promise we made to the electorate,” said Mr Nemyria, “The old-era of protectionism does not work in today’s global economy. Protecting inefficient industry and jobs have been excuses for our oligarch clans for too long. Cynically manipulated import-export restrictions and high tariffs raise the price of goods, restrict choice and ultimately damage job prospects. Joining the WTO will open up markets previously denied to us and supports out goal for a stronger, more transparent economy based upon recognized international rules.”
Mr Nemyria also discussed Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s visit to Brussels on 28-29 January. During her visit – her first since becoming prime minister – she will meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Meetings are also scheduled with Mr Mandelson and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.