Friday July 16, 8:22 pm Eastern Time
Thailand Offers To Share WTO Post
By NAOMI KOPPEL
Associated Press Writer
GENEVA (AP) -- Thailand said Friday it was willing to share World
Trade Organization leadership by splitting the six-year term with
New Zealand.
The concession could end a bitter leadership struggle that has
undermined the organization's authority as a trade policeman
during the high-profile transatlantic disputes over bananas and
hormone-treated beef.
Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan told a news conference that
Thailand would be happy for its candidate, Deputy Prime Minister
Supachai Panitchpakdi, to wait three years for the job as
director-general, provided he had a completely free hand after that.
That would clear the way for New Zealand's Mike Moore to move
into WTO headquarters immediately and fill the vacuum left at the
end of April by Italy's Renato Ruggiero.
There was no immediate reaction from the WTO Friday to the Thai
announcement.
The first three years is seen by some as the plum term because
the director-general will set the agenda for trade liberalization
talks to be launched in November in Seattle.
But a key plan to lower more trade barriers will likely be
finalized in the second term. Taking the second slot would also
allow Supachai to finish his term in the current Thai Cabinet
before the country's November 2000 elections.
Supachai would take over in 2002, if the agreement is approved.
The bitter leadership contest began last year, souring relations
between Supachai's Asian supporters and Moore's backers in the West.
Australia proposed the share plan after it became clear that
neither man could defeat the other. The organization makes
decisions by consensus, rather than vote, but neither man's
supporters would withdraw their candidate.
After a brief general council session Thursday, diplomats were upbeat.
``The atmosphere here now is completely different to what it was
before,'' said Bangladeshi Ambassador Iftekhar Chowdhury.
Even so, some voiced concern about the power-sharing deal.
Morocco -- whose own candidate dropped out of the race earlier
this year -- said each man should serve just two years.
The Thai foreign minister stressed his country would not accept
anything less than three years.
Meanwhile, the United States and Canada will seek final approval
from the World Trade Organization later this month for sanctions
against the European Union over imports of hormone-treated beef.
The July 26 meeting is likely to give both countries immediate
approval to impose 100 percent tariffs on a range of imports from
the EU, effectively pricing the items out of the market.
Washington has not yet decided precisely which goods will be
affected, but its preliminary list included canned meats,
Roquefort cheese, truffles, paprika, chewing gum, chocolate,
mineral water and motorcycles.
The Canadian preliminary list included beef, cucumbers,
gingerbread, gin, vodka and soup.
Although the EU ban on hormone-treated beef has been ruled
illegal, Brussels has refused to lift it, saying some of the
hormones could cause cancer.
------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------
Thursday July 15, 7:31 pm Eastern Time
Canada appeals against WTO dairy ruling
WINNIPEG, July 15 (Reuters) - Canada's trade and agriculture
ministers launched a formal appeal on Thursday of a World Trade
Organization ruling that said Canada's dairy pricing system for
certain exports constituted an export subsidy.
``Canada believes that its dairy industry pricing practices
conform with WTO rules,'' Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief said
in a joint statement with International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi.
Canada plans to submit its position to the world trade body on July 19.
``The appeal is expected to be heard on September 6 and a
decision is expected in mid-October,'' the statement said.
The WTO ruled in March that Canada's system to provide low-cost
milk to processors for export sales constitutes an export
subsidy, upholding the U.S. view that WTO members cannot use
illegal subsidy programs for farm exports to undercut competitors.
------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------