برخی از پرسش و پاسخ های نشست اینترنتی WTO

Question: Shall we start?

Answer: Welcome to all, and Season's Greetings.

Question: There is an interminable discussion in the international scenery - and that very clearly divides the First World (the developed countries) and the Third World (the nations in development) -, regarding the intimate relation between the international trade and the labour standards. So, I'd like to know what is the current position of this organization on the possibility to implement "social clauses" in the multilateral relations of trade under the aegis of the WTO? Is there any group of discussion or committee that, at present and in the context of the WTO, studies and analyses this matter? Or is this subject left for the OIT, with the permanence of the same speech uttered in the "Declaration of Cingapura" in 1996?

Answer: Currently, there is no work on this subject in the WTO’s councils and committees. On one point there is a clear consensus: WTO member governments are committed to a narrower set of internationally recognized “core” standards — freedom of association, no forced labour, no child labour, and no discrimination at work (including gender discrimination). However, beyond that it is not easy for them to agree, and the question of international enforcement is a minefield. So the Singapore Declaration still stands. But it has been said several times that the WTO provisions cannot be read in "clinical isolation" from the rest of general international law which includes the ILOs resolutions. So it is for each and all Members to find ways to reconcile their obligations to the ILO and their obligations to the WTO. On a daily basis the WTO and ILO Secretariats work together on several technical issues such as trade and employement

Question: Would you please ask & answer in English?

Private Answer: We answer the questions in any one of the three official WTO languages in which they are posed (English, Spanish, French)

Question: Talking about the future of the WTO … there is a general rejection of the trade community against a stricter link between human rights and trade. Nowadays, developing countries are the main group rejecting this link, as they fear that developed countries could resort even more to stem trade. In your opinion what should be the role of the WTO regarding human rights? Partnerships with HR-related bodies of the UN? Modification of the TPRs criteria? Do you envisage trade disputes touching human rights in the DSB?

Answer: Human rights is a very wide issue which is dealt with by many international organizations. WTO rules, like other rules in the international system, have to respect human rights. If your question is about core labour standards, WTO Members have decided that they are dealt with in the ILO.

Question: Director General Lamy, we are witnessing an increasing discrepancy in the way the ITA (Information Technology Agreement) is interpreted among signature countries (mostly as result of product technological convergence). Next year the WTO will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ITA. I would appreciate if you could share your views on the future of the ITA. Thank you, Sandra Alverà

Answer: The ITA has been a great boon to trade in information technology products over the last ten years. What a pity it would be if we saw divergences away from the open approach that the parties have embraced so far. I remain optimistic that we will see a continuation of this win-win agreement in the same spirit it was created a decade ago.

Question: Now Saudi Arabia is being counted as WTO member and Russian Federation & Iran (my lovely country) are observer governments. These three countries are rich in energy resources. What do you think about Energy trade discussions in WTO?

Answer: Energy discussions have never prospered in the WTO. The WTO has the possibilitiy of discussing energy trade if that's what the Members want, but so far it has not been a sector that parties have chosen to address in any systematic fashion in this context. Who knows if this willchange?

Question: What role should Developing Countries play to help negotiations?

Answer: Developing countries have been playing a very important role in the negotiations...in fact right across the board, in all areas, developing country alliances have been playing a very significant part in the negotiations. I am looking to them, especially the more developed amongst them, to play an even greater leadership role in pushing the negotiations towards a successful conclusion. The most important thing is not too forget that all members, whether developed or developing, have aspirations and expectations, and we will be able to make progress only if all countries are willing to blend pragmatism with flexibility.

Question: Do you believe that the WTO might help facilitate cultural changes in a country? Do you feel that national governments adequeately takes these changes into account when deciding upon whether to apply for membership?

Answer: I am not sure what "cultural change" is exactly about. Let's assume it means changes in people's habits, representations, traditions. They, for sure, are impacted by the opening of an economy which was previously closed. And like any process of change, it needs good preparation, a lot of explication, and a solid demonstration that change is for the better. My experience in WTO accessions is that they have been all the more successful that they have been carefully synergised with domestic reform processes.

Question: May I ask you what happen to Iran economy if Iran would expose to The sanctions of UN? Iranian people are worried about it.

Answer: Sanctions generally do not help trade, much less international relations among countries. Quite a bit of evidence exists that trade sanctions are not especially effective in many circumstances

Question: Do you have in mind a room for NGO to participate more in decision making process? I mean something like committee for consumer protection & public interest.

Answer: I don't think the WTO membership has in mind the creation of any NGO committee enabling NGOs to participate more in the decision-making process. Remember, we are an inter-governmental member-driven oprganization.

Question: Our world expected to live in peace with agreements on trade issues. But unfortunately war still bursts into flame. What is your opinion about its root? Can we overcome these relations with economic agreements?

Answer: You rightly point out to the relationship between trade agreements and peace. If it is true that wars still occur, one should perhaps point out to the fact that many trade disputes (which could potentially degenerate into war) are now resolved in a peaceful manner, through dispute settlement. I also believe that the multilateral system is the best assurance against conflicts, and much more so than bilateral agreements.

Question: Today Iran announced to replace dollar with euro. Do you think it will have any impact on international trade?

Answer: I do not think this will have a marked effect on international trade flows, as the magnitudes involved are probably not large enough. However, to the extent that the dollar and euro fluctuate at different rates, pricing Iranian oil in one or the other currency will influence domestic currency returns on exports.

Question: What do you think about Iran accession period? Are we going forward or backward?

Answer: The Working Party, which is the body in which accession is dealt with, has been set up. The Chairman of the General Council is still consulting the Members on the chair of this body. On the Iranian side, quite a lot of technical work has been done which I think is a good base for the negotiations.

Question: Thank you dear Lamy. Happy New coming Year to you.

Answer: Thank you very much ! Hope the year is really happy -- and that we conclude the negotiations successfuly !

Question: DR. LAMY: MUCHAS GRACIAS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MERCI BEAUCOUP, JOYEAUX NOEL

Answer: Gracias a Ud, merry Christmas ! Hope we conclude the Round successfuly in 2007 !

Question: 谢谢(Thanks so much for the deliberation. Wish the WTO well come 2007

Answer: I have answered more than 100 questions over the last hour and am now totally exhausted. My wife will be happy with this contribution to her argumentaire that we need a bit of holiday. I thank you all for her and season's greeting to you and your families.