`Delink trade from labour' : UK Minister

[Ulhas Joglekar]

9 January 2000 
`Delink trade from labour'
Business Times Bureau
NEW DELHI: Trade should be delinked from labour and environment standards,
UK secretary of state for trade and industry Stephen Byers said here on
Saturday.
Addressing a FICCI meeting, he said WTO should focus on ensuring
implementation of agreements signed at the Uruguay Round.
Earlier, at a CII meeting, Byers referred to the period at the failed
Seattle talks as ``most depressing five days''. He called for resisting
protectionism and evolving a strong framework for free trade.
Byers' statements come on the eve of the visit of WTO director general Mike
Moore here. Moore will address industry leaders and meet people in
government in his efforts to revive WTO negotiations.
He said the Global Enterprise Initiative, to be launched shortly, aims to
promote cooperation among small and medium firms in India and the UK. He
expected 200 new collaborations between firms in the two countries over the
next 2-3 years.
In the proposed Indo-British partnership, focus will be on privatisation,
knowledge-based industry, agri-based industry and post-harvest technology
particularly the cold chain, he said.
Byers disclosed that there has been a move towards a new round of talks to
strengthen air traffic between India and the UK. He said he would announce
``practical approaches'' to develop trade and investments between the two
countries at the CII partnership summit beginning here on Sunday.
At the FICCI meet, he emphasised the need for tie-ups between Indian and UK
companies in e- commerce. He said Britain, which expects to be strong in
this field, has targeted a 4-fold increase in business for small and medium
enterprises through the Internet by 2002.

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