HomeUnited KingdomConversation: World Trade Organisation's UNITED STATES Trade Policy Review, Dec 2022: UK...
Conversation: World Trade Organisation’s UNITED STATES Trade Policy Review, Dec 2022: UK statement
In early Oct we saw British lamb shipped to the US initially in 25 years after we all worked together to raise the long-standing US ban on imports of British lamb. This means that over three hundred million lucky US customers will now be able to enjoy the UK’s succulent world-renowned lamb the first time in a generation – washed down, I hope with a cup of fine Californian Zinfandel.
Let me start with a word about the ties that will bind the UK and the United states. Normally, we don’t just sit next to each other – and I realise we are a bit further apart this morning. Our own nations have a deep and unique relationship grounded within shared history, values, plus ambitions. We do more together than any other 2 countries in the world, with remarkable cooperation at every level of culture, culture, defence, intelligence, and the economy.
And we don’t have to look up to now back to see that an engaged United States is beneficial to this organisation. The US played a critical function during MC12 in reaching the conclusion of that historic initial stage of the fisheries subsidies’ negotiations, for which we should all of the be thankful. We furthermore appreciate the constructive role it played in helping to secure contract on the Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity – such a crucial problem to members across this Organization.
Let me also emphasise that within our advance written questions, we all paid particular attention to requesting the United States about procurement obstacles, including Made in America endeavours and Buy American policies. All of us look forward to continuing to work with the united states Administration to ensure fair plus transparent government procurement, through the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and in our bilateral wedding.
Chair, the US is at the heart of this Company and its leadership is very important to the survival and the achievement of the WTO. As the former US Trade Rep and World Bank President Bob Zoellick said, “It is in the self-interest of the main developed states – and in the global interest – to become, with others, architects of the future. ” Since the creation from the GATT 75 years ago this season, the US has always a new crucial role in shaping the global trading system.
Chair, allow me to just highlight just one of the numerous examples of the recent successes in our bilateral relationship supporting businesses, consumers and employees on both sides of what we call ‘the pond. ’
And we were pleased to see our US-UK Dialogues on the Future of Atlantic Trade mentioned in the United States’ Government Report. The dialogues in Baltimore and Aberdeen earlier this year recognized a range of collaboration opportunities which includes digital trade, support just for SMEs and protecting labour and environmental standards. All of us look forward to future engagement with all the United States on our shared priorities.
We have worked together to support our companies to trade and ensure the consumers enjoy a greater variety and range of products and services. Within parallel, the UK is also conditioning ties with individual says to deepen our overall trade and investment partnership.
But we must now deliver on our requirement given by our Ministers to achieve a fully and well-functioning program as soon as possible, and by 2024. To obtain there, it’s incumbent upon all of us to come together with focus, with urgency, and with pragmatism, in order to reach an agreement on meaningful reform. Needless to say, the us of America has a important role to play to help find a solution that can command the particular support of all Members of the Organization.
Our Heads of Government make clear their commitment to open societies and open markets as the best way to deliver tangible benefits to ordinary citizens. And of course, picking up the Ambassador’s comments, we have stood side by side once again over these last nine months in support of our Ukrainian friends in their fight for their particular freedom – and ours.
Chair, since their last TPR in 2018, the world has faced some of the biggest difficulties of our time. We are all nevertheless grappling with the economic and health impacts of the outbreak which highlights just how important it is to keep trade flowing and supply chains open. Plus our future is more than ever before endangered by climate alter.
We welcome the US recognition that trade can, and indeed should, be a pressure for good. We support President Biden’s emphasis on democracy and open societies, and we think that free and fair trade lies close to the heart of these. So today I want to say to our US friends the fact that WTO needs the US, more than ever. US leadership – noticeable leadership – is crucial to global prosperity and to the effective functioning of this Business. So I urge the US to participate us in setting out aspiration and engagement across all of the WTO dossiers.
It is in all our interests to ensure that we don’t affect trading links in crucial industries that are essential for all of us if we want to reach net absolutely no. We are in touch with the US Management about our concerns and am fervently hope a way through can be found. We should all work together to ensure we can achieve our shared ambitions for a greener and more sustainable future in a way that preserves the multilateral trading system and respects WTO rules.
One area where the United Kingdom – like, I suspect, others here this morning – believes we need to make more progress is the dispute settlement system. Without a fully-functioning dispute settlement system we are all left unable to fully realise the benefits of the agreements we have negotiated. All of us welcome the US’ effort to convene an informal process on Dispute Settlement change.
Muchas gracias, Señor Presidente. May I join other people in warmly welcoming the particular United States’ delegation, brought by our distinguished colleague Ambassador María Pagán, plus her colleagues both came from here and in DC to this, their own 15th Trade Policy Evaluation. Thank you very much also to our own distinguished Discussant Ambassador Spencer. I’m glad to see which they both got the memo about the dress code with this morning, President. There is still time to pick up your Santa suit so that this afternoon you are able to all be colour-coordinated.
Chair, more than 80 years ago, our two great nations issued the Atlantic Charter, outlining our own joint vision for the future of the world amidst the turmoil of the Second World War. In that Charter, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill promised to respect their existing obligations and move forward the enjoyment by almost all States, no matter how big or small, of access to the particular trade on equal conditions. Today, this promise needs to be upheld more than ever, not just by the US and UK, but by all of us who care about our common future. Thanks a lot very much
COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh provides given us all more to undertake. We all face the challenge associated with transitioning to a greener economy and ensuring the sustainability of our supply chains. I would like to salute the Biden Administration, on behalf of our Government because of its ground-breaking Inflation Reduction React this past August, and its perceptive environmental provisions. At the same time, our own US colleagues will know that will my Government, like others here, have serious concerns about some of the policies in the Act which will inadvertently damage British businesses and effect global supply chains within batteries, electric vehicles plus wider renewables.
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