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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Secretary-General's message to Europe: slash your subsidies

10 June 2003

"For the majority of developing countries in the Commonwealth, trade access is a question of life or death. It is time to ensure that the voice of the Commonwealth is heard and clearly understood at the European level," Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said today. He was speaking on the eve of his first visit to Brussels as Secretary-General on 10-11 June.

Mr McKinnon will meet the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, to discuss trade access, agricultural subsidies and potential areas of cooperation between the Commonwealth and the Commission. The visit will also include meetings with European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielsen.

The Secretary-General will underline the fact that, in the World Trade Organisation's Uruguay Round of talks in 1994, wide-ranging commitments were made on reducing agricultural subsidies in the developed world and improving trade access for developing countries. But little has been done to fulfil those commitments.
"There were encouraging signs that the round of negotiations initiated in Doha last year would mark a sea change by incorporating a 'development agenda'," he said. "But I am increasingly worried that developing countries - many Commonwealth states among them - will be sidelined and their concerns about the current imbalances in the international trading system will not be addressed.

During his meetings in Brussels, the Secretary-General will highlight the areas in which the Commonwealth and the EU could collaborate fruitfully. These include the promotion of democracy and good governance, trade capacity building and conflict resolution. The Secretary-General will also speak at a reception hosted by the Australian Ambassador on 10 June. He is scheduled to address Ambassadors of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group the following day.

03/41 9 June 2003
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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
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