Stanovisko SP ČR k nové strategii “Trade, Growth and World Affairs”
Position of Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic on the new trade strategy “Trade, Growth and World Affairs”
Preliminary reaction on the new trade strategy “Trade, Growth and World Affairs”
The new European Trade Policy has the ambition to achieve a better functioning of international trade in goods and services, improve the conditions for investment, for public procurement and protection of intellectual property. Confederation of Industry (SPCR) was involved in a public consultation on this material. Commission received a total of 301 observations from 37 countries.
SPCR acknowledges the main “motto” of the strategy - liberalization of international trade. After the recession it is the international trade which has the potential to ensure growth of European economy, benefits for the final consumers and creation of new jobs.
The new Trade Policy rightly emphasizes the importance of the multilateral approach within the WTO but also bilateral agreements between the EU and third countries. SPCR strongly supports the negotiations on signing the first of them (the FTA between EU and Korea) and gradual completition all of these negotiations, the agreements cover more than 50% of exports of the European Union (India, Ukraine, Mercosur, Singapore and other ASEAN countries).
In the view of SPCR, Europe has to focus in particular on cooperation with key partners: USA, Japan, China, India, Russia and Brazil.
“SPCR welcomes the new Trade Policy as a good framework for further liberalisation of international trade. Nonetheless the proposal lacks sufficient emphasis on improving access to emerging markets and, at the same time, does not at all outline the role of the newly established External Action Service of the EU in the field of economic diplomacy, international business development and promotion of international trade,” says Dagmar Kuchtová, Deputy Director General of SPCR responsible for International Affairs.
Prague, 10th November 2010
