site.btaEconomy Minister Loukarski Urges Better Access for EU Producers to WTO Markets

Economy Minister Loukarski Urges Better Access for EU Producers to WTO Markets

Riga, March 25 (BTA) - Attending Wednesday an informal meeting
of trade ministers in Riga, organized by the Latvian EU
Presidency, Economy Minister Bozhidar Loukarski urged for
parallel progress and balanced agreements in World Trade
Organization (WTO) negotiations to liberalize trade concerning
three key areas: agriculture, non-agricultural market access and
 services.

Loukarski noted that the European Commission should focus its
efforts on achieving realistic and commensurate results for both
 developed and developing WTO members.

He outlined several areas where the EC and the WTO should focus
their efforts.
Loukarski underscored a need for a similar reduction of
agricultural subsidies extended by developed and developing WTO
members. The EU insists on retaining a maximum level of state
support for the sector, which is key to maintaining EU farmers'
competitiveness.

Loukarski urged for efforts to reduce and remove tariff and
non-tariff obstacles to trade. In his words, striking agreements
 in this area and their effective enforcement will create many
opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in Bulgaria
and Europe to take part in regional and global value-added
chains. Measures, elaborated in a 2014 WTO trade facilitation
agreement, include reduction of administrative burden and
converging requirements and documentation among WTO members. The
 agreement is expected to enter into force by December 2015.

Minister Loukarski voiced Bulgaria's support for EC's efforts
for a novel approach to trade liberalization within the WTO.