EU trade barriers come under fire at WTO

Specifically, Europe should phase out crisis payments to itscar, construction and tourism sectors "once the economic recoveryhas taken hold" and harmonise rules on public contracts, itsaid.。"Europe is the most important trading region in the world, so ofcourse countries will complain if its markets aren't open," onediplomat said.。On the first of a two-day public assessment of EU trade policyat the World Trade Organization in Geneva, dozens of countriesattacked EU red tape, food standards, crisis payments to industry,farm subsidies and defensive trade barriers.。"European producers have systematically and unfairly, in ourview, competed with farmers from the developing world, inducing andaggravating food dependency in the poorest countries."。However it said that "long-standing barriers to market accessand other measures that distort international competition remain inplace."。Taking aim at Europe's notorious food quality and technicalstandards, the WTO warned these should "not create unnecessaryobstacles to trade with third countries".。"In recent years, the Common Agricultural Policy has been movingtowards more market-oriented measures, but at an extremely slowpace," Brazil's ambassador Roberto Azevedo said,ダークブラッド RMT.。Europe's "decision to refrain from tightening restrictions onimports ... had a stabilising effect on the multilateral tradingsystem," the WTO said in its review.。More than 40 other countries questioned Europe's trade policy,most criticising the bloc's unwillingness to open its farm marketand its widespread use of protective trade barriers against rivalproducers, diplomats said.。WTO members have submitted more than 1,メイプルストーリー RMT,000 questions to the EUon its trade practices, diplomats said. One added that a similarreview on the trade policy of China had prompted twice as manyquestions.。US Ambassador Michael Punke denounced high EU farm tariffs andfood safety standards, which have closed Europe's doors to goodssuch as U.S. chicken and biotech cereal, saying they "appear tolack sufficient scientific justification".。EU trade officials will respond to Wednesday's criticisms onFriday. A statement by the EU trade chief's office highlighted theWTO's praise for EU policy including trade schemes for poorcountries and the greater cohesion of the EU's internal market.。Brazil, noting that the EU is its largest trading partner,accounting for about 22 percent of its foreign trade last year,urged the bloc to tackle its "existing trade barriers anddistortions" in a way benefiting all sides.。

Shipping containers at the Port Newark near New York City - Source: ReutersCountries that want to boost their trade with Europe said theywere frustrated by European Union trade barriers they claim hampertheir ability to tap into the world's largest market.。EU agricultural export subsidies remain a concern and marketaccess to the EU's highly regulated agricultural market is still aformidable challenge, Azevedo said,pso2 RMT.