2011/2115(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the Commission is pushing for a comprehensive investment liberalisation framework with the aim of achieving maximum protection for EU investors; ~~recalls that it is vital that investment treaties provide a better balance between the rights and obligations of investors and host governments;~~ urges the EU not to ban the use of performance requirements (local content, technology transfer, environment sustainability, etc.) as they are often prerequisites to ensure that foreign investment benefits the domestic market;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Condemns the fact in several African countries, especially in DR Congo, income from extraction of minerals have contributed to enriching rebel groups and fuelling civil wars and other armed conflicts; reiterates its call for addressing effectively ‘conflict minerals’ in Africa that have resulted in the death and displacement of millions of people; urges the Commission to propose a legislative initiative on conflict minerals on the line of the US Dodd-Frank Act;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EU to ensure that trade agreements and the raw materials initiative reflect developing countries’ need to break away from commodity dependence; stresses that fair agreements on investment entail allowing developing countries to discriminate among types of investment based on their contribution to development objectives;deleted

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 13 #

Emma McCLARKIN, Robert STURDY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. CRecalls that many African countries are trapped in commodity dependence, relying heavily on a few primary commodities for most of their export earnings; calls on the EU to ensure that trade agreements and the raw materials initiative reflect developing countries’ need to break away from commodity dependence and to diversify their economies; stresses that fair agreements on investment entail allowing developing countries to discriminate among types of investment based on their contribution to development objectives;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Encourages the Commission to continue its efforts to maintain an up-to- date inventory of key barriers faced by EU exporters and investors, particularly in countries where the EU has FTA’s; which would include the number and nature of the complaints made; maintains that this tool be used to assess the development of third countries’ market openess;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Reiterates its call for addressing effectively the problem of ‘conflict minerals’ and other resources related to conflict in Africa that have resulted in the death and displacement of millions of people; urges the Commission to propose a legislative initiative on conflict minerals on the line of the US Dodd-Frank Act even if that might at first have a negative impact on artisanal mining; points out that such legislation is in effect pro- business as it would strengthen legal security and long-term political stability; maintains that, in order for such initiatives to work, a more comprehensive, global approach is needed, an example being the recent efforts of the OECD to help companies procure minerals responsibly;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that export taxes are one of the few remaining trade policy tools at the disposal of developing countries with which to pursue development goals; urges the EU to refrain from attempting to ban the use of export taxes at the WTO and in bilateral trade agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as it would limit their policy space to use this tool for value-addition, diversification, infant industry protection, food security, revenue and environmental considerations;deleted

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that export taxes are one of the few remaining trade policy tools at the disposal of developing countries with which to pursue development goals; in particular, underlines that export taxes are permitted under the WTO rules, and that the majority of WTO members using export taxes are developing and least developed countries; recalls that low income developing countries are more dependent on trade taxes than other countries and it is often very difficult for them to replace revenues lost due to tariff reductions, because of the narrow existing domestic tax bases; accordingly, calls on the EU to fully respect the right of developing countries to regulate or use export taxes in their public interest; henceforth, urges the EU to refrain from attempting to ban the use of export taxes at the WTO and in bilateral trade agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as it would limit their policy space to use this tool for value-addition, diversification, infant industry protection, food security, revenue and environmental considerations;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that export taxes are ~~one of the few remaining~~a trade policy tools at the disposal of developing countries w~~ith which~~hich can be used to pursue development goals; urges the EU to refrain from attempting to ban the use of export taxes for Least Developed Countries at the WTO and in bilateral trade agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as it would limit their policy space to use this tool for value-addition, diversification, infant industry protection, food security, revenue and environmental considerations;

Amendment 2 #

Emma McCLARKIN, Robert STURDY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the Commission is pushing for a comprehensive investment liberalisation framework with the aim of achieving maximum protection for EU investors; underlines that different case studies show how international investment rules may inhibit governments from putting in place policies aimed at protecting public health, regulating access to land and water or ensuring adequate standards of living for a vulnerable social group; recalls that it is vital that investment treaties provide a better balance between the rights and obligations of investors and host governments; urges the EU not to ban the use of performance requirements (local content, technology transfer, environment sustainability, etc.) as they are often prerequisites to ensure that foreign investment benefits the domestic market;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Urges the Commission to utilise its communication channels with like- minded partners to address NTB’s and other regulatory obstacles in third countries, with a view to developing joint strategies for the removal of these barriers;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that the negotiations should not have a negative impact on developing countries’ abilities to foster South-South trade;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Points out that EU trade negotiations should contribute to improving the livelihoods of marginalised producers and workers in developing countries, for instance through initiatives that aim at ensuring that small producers are an integral part of the supply chains;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that higher intellectual property (IP) standards negotiated within bilateral trade agreements erode the flexibilities available to developing countries under the multilateral IP protection regime; calls on the EU fully to respect TRIPS flexibilities, especially those relating to public health and access to medicines, so as to leave the developing countries policy space to address public interest concerns;deleted

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that higher intellectual property (IP) standards negotiated within bilateral trade agreements erode the flexibilities available to developing countries under the multilateral IP protection regime; calls on the EU fully to respectCalls on the EU to apply wherever possible the TRIPS flexibilities, especially those relating to public health and access to medicines, so as to leave the developing countries policy space to address public interest concerns;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. SNotes with concern that the EU is seeking liberalisation commitments from developing countries on intellectual property that go well beyond what they could agree to in multilateral fora; stresses that higher intellectual property (IP) standards negotiated within bilateral trade agreements erode the flexibilities available to developing countries under the multilateral IP protection regime; calls on the EU fully to respect TRIPS flexibilities, especially those relating to public health and access to medicines, so as to leave the developing countries policy space to address public interest concerns; urges equally the EU to identify the salient barriers to technology transfer allowing developing countries to benefit from the innovation and hence facilitating societal progress, i.e. in the ambit of environment and climate change;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that higher intellectual property (IP) standards negotiated within bilateral trade agreements may erode the flexibilities available to developing countries under the multilateral IP protection regime; calls on the EU fully to respect TRIPS flexibilities, especially those relating to public health and access to medicines, so as to leave the developing countries policy space to address public interest concerns;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Deplores the use of trade and investment barriers in green goods by some major emerging countries; notes that such barriers represent an impediment to the growth of a genuinely global market in green and renewable technologies, and calls on the Commission to apply further pressure on major trading partners to liberalise green goods within the Doha negotiations; considers that the removal of such barriers should be a major aim of the Commission’s forthcoming proposal on third country access to public procurement;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Regrets the fact that, in spite of opposition from developing countries,~~Notes that the EU is pushing for binding liberalisation commitments in General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations, thereby undermining the development of the developing countries’ domestic services; calls on the EU fully to respect flexibility mechanisms in the GATS; highlights the fact that without a comprehensive assessment of trade in services, developing; calls on the EU to apply wherever possible the flexibility mechanisms in the GATS; emphasises that liberalisation must not impair the ability of governments to impose performance and quality countr~~ies are unable to assess the costs and benefits of GATS liberalisation~~ols on environmental services and service providers;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the Commission is pushing for a comprehensive investment liberalisation framework with the aim of achieving maximum protection for EU investors; evokes the responsibility for policy coherence for development as laid down in Article 208 TFEU and recalls that it is vital that investment treaties provide a better balance between the rights and obligations of investors and host governments; urges the EU not to ban the use of performance requirements (local content, technology transfer, environment sustainability, etc.) as they are often prerequisites to ensure that foreign investment benefits the domestic market;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the fact that, in spite of opposition from developing countries, the EU is pushing for binding liberalisation commitments in General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations, thereby undermining the development of the developing countries’ domestic services; calls on the EU fully to respect flexibility mechanisms in the GATS;Considers that the European Union should help developing countries to ensure that the regulation of services is open, non-discriminatory and transparent and takes account of the public interest; supports the EU’s demand for binding liberalisation commitments in General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations, but highlights the fact that without a comprehensive assessment of trade in services, developing countries are unable to assess the costs and benefits of GATS liberalisation; calls on the EU to take full account of the flexibility mechanisms in applying GATS provisions;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the fact that, in spite of opposition from developing countries, the EU is pushing for binding liberalisation commitments in General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations, regardless of their concerns that it could lead to harmful import surges, thereby undermining the development of the developing countries’ domestic services; calls on the EU fully to respect flexibility mechanisms in the GATS; highlights the fact that without a comprehensive assessment of trade in services, developing countries are unable to assess the costs and benefits of GATS liberalisation;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points out that the introduction of the reciprocity principle regarding public procurement is purely theoretical, while being harmful for developing countries, as it will i.e. hamper the development of infant industries and processing; urges therefore the EU to respect fully the ‘special and differential treatment’ granted to developing countries;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the Commission is pushing for a comprehensive investment liberalisation framework with the aim of achieving ~~maximum protection for EU investo~~equal conditions for all EU investors in third countries and for all third-country investors in the EU, thereby helping to promote competitiveness, economic growth and productivity and to create jobs and secure positive outcomes for consumers; recalls that it is vital that investment treaties provide a better balance between the rights and obligations of investors and host governments; urges the EU not to ban the use of performance requirements (local content, technology transfer, environment sustainability, etc.) as they are often prerequisites to ensure that foreign investment benefits the domestic market;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the Commission is pushing for a comprehensive investment liberalisation framework with the aim of achieving maximum protection for EU investors; recalls that it is vital that investment treaties provide a better balance between the rights and obligations of investors and host governments; urges the EU ~~not to ban~~to protect the use of performance requirements ~~(local content,~~, such as technology transfer, and environment sustainability, ~~etc.)~~ as they are often prerequisites to ensure that foreign investment benefits the domestic market;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that the Commission is pushing for a more assertive approach to ensure that European companies gain access to third country markets, especially in emerging countries, in the ambit of services, investments, public procurement markets, intellectual property rights and the supply of raw materials;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that a clear distinction needs to be made between emerging developing countries, developing countries and least developed countries (LDC’s); highlights the fact that trade between developing countries can also contain significant barriers, including NTBs, and that this issue should be address in ad hoc negotiations;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Stresses that access to land and water is essential for ensuring food security and poverty reduction; but notes that in many developing countries, domestic laws are not well suited to guaranteeing the sustainable management of natural resources or affording vulnerable groups adequate protection; recalls that, in line with the principle of policy coherence for development, the EU must strive to promote the equitable and sustainable use of the world’s natural resources and design its trade policy accordingly;

Amendment 9 #

Philippe JUVIN, Constance LE GRIP

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Notes with concern that the EU is pushing for investment liberalisation that would increase the rights of foreign companies to tap raw materials; recalls that foreign investment in the extraction of mineral resources in Africa has generated few development benefits, as foreign investment has been characterised by secret tax deals and concessions depriving African governments of important mining revenue, low levels of technology transfer and repatriation of profits out of the countries; considers that in the absence of regulations governing natural resources extraction, increased openness to foreign investment can accelerate unsustainable use of natural resources;

source: PE-470.085

2011/09/06 IMCO 39 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission and the Council to continue implementation of the European external market access strategy with a view to removing non-tariff trade barriers; calls on the Commission to maintain a strong stance in defending European interests against unfair trade in application of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, and in removing all obstacles to trade, including when justified through the suspension of concessions or other obligations as provided by article 22.2 of the World Trade Organization's Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes;

Amendment 10 #

Morten LØKKEGAARD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Supports the proposal contained in the Single Market Act aiming to promote regulatory convergence and the wider adoption of international standards in order to restrict technical barriers to trade as far as possible; hopes that the structured regulatory dialogues established in this field with some of its partners will produce practical results as regards the mutual recognition, convergence and development of rules and standards and that these dialogues will be extended to other trading partners;

Amendment 11 #

Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Supports the ~~proposal contained in the Single Market Act aiming~~general philosophy to promote regulatory convergence and the wider adoption of international standards; hopes that the structured regulatory dialogues established in this field with some of its partners will produce practical results as regards the mutual recognition, convergence and development of rules and standards;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recalls that the proliferation of bilateral and regional trade agreements contributes to rendering international trade relations more cumbersome, costly and unpredictable for economic operators; calls on the Council and the Commission to strengthen the multilateral trade regime, especially with regard to the advancement of the WTO Doha round;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the importance of international standards in boosting global trade and growth particularly in the development of new technologies, and the need to ensure better cooperation between national standardisation bodies at global level, especially in the US, China and Japan;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Underlines the added difficulties faced by SMEs when tackling foreign regulations and non-tariff barriers, notably the legal and administrative burdens associated with Trade Defence Instrument procedures;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Regrets the persistent lack of consistency between technical standards which perpetuate barriers to trade; Stresses that the development of new standards should follow an inclusive international approach underpinned by widespread consultation to avoid the emergence of new trade barriers;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls on the Commission to hasten the simplification and adaptation of TDI procedures to the needs and accounting systems of SMEs and the establishment of adequate support measures for SMEs affected by proceedings initiated by third countries;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls on the Commission to better engage with trading partners who do not apply mutual recognition principles for the standards developed by EU standardisation bodies;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Stresses the important role of joint investment in facilitating research and development in long term inward investment projects, and calls on the Commission to continue its promotion of access by third countries to EU Framework Programmes;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission and the Council, in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit, to step up dialogue and cooperation with the EU's trade partners on product safety and respect for intellectual property rights;

Amendment 2 #

Philippe JUVIN, Constance LE GRIP

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission and the Council to continue implementation of the European external market access strategy with a view to removing non-tariff trade barriers and to improving legal security for all economic operators;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Regrets that the public procurement procedures of our principal partners are not as open as those of the European Union; strongly supports the Commission's work to revise EU legislation on public procurement, in particular as specified in the Communication on the Single Market Act of 13 April 2011 the introduction of legislation clarifying the provisions on access by third-country businesses to European public procurement procedures, both to ensure that, on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, the conditions governing these procedures are fair, and to strengthen the EU's position when negotiating access for European businesses to third-country public procurement procedures; calls on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal by the end of 2011 at the latest;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Regrets that the public procurement procedures of our principal partners are not as open as those of the European Union; supports~~Takes note of the fact that a mere 1-2 percent of the value of procurement contracts within the EU Member States are awarded across national borders, with the percentage of contracts awarded to bidders from outside the EU being a very small part of this fraction, calling in doubt the de-facto openness of the EU procurement market; nevertheless, considers that reciprocity is needed in this field between the EU and the industrialised countries and major emerging partners, without hindering the capability of the public authorities, especially in the developing countries, to use public procurement for purposes of general interest ; expects therefore the Commission~~'s work~~ to reprovisde ~~EU legislation on public procurement, in particular~~ figures and facts regarding the level of openness of public procurement both in the EU and in other in~~troduction of legislation~~dustrialised countries, and to come up with a balanced legislative proposal to enhance symmetry in access to public procurement and to clarify~~ing~~ the provisions on access by third-country businesses to European public procurement procedures~~, both~~ in order to ensure that the conditions governing these procedures are fair ~~and to strengthen the EU's position when negotiating access for European businesses to third-country public procurement procedures~~;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Regrets that the public procurement procedures of our principal partners are not as open as those of the European Union; supports the Commission's work ~~to revise EU legislation on public procurement, in particular the introduction of legislation~~in particular to clarify~~ing~~ the provisions on access by third-country businesses to European public procurement procedures, both to ensure that the conditions governing these procedures are fair and to strengthen the EU's position when negotiating access for European businesses to third-country public procurement procedures; stresses the need for evidence based policy making and a thorough impact assessment as well as an assessment of the relative risks and benefits for EU business and public sector stakeholders, with a view to proposing legislation;

Amendment 23 #

Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Regrets that the public procurement procedures of our principal partners are not as open as those of the European Union; supports the Commission’s work to revise EU legislation on public procurement, in particular ~~the introduction of legislation clarifying the provision~~its review of the measures needed to ensure the fairness onf access b~~y third-country businesses to European public procurement procedures, both to ensure that the conditions governing these~~oth for EU businesses to procurement procedures in third countries and for third-country businesses to European public procurement procedures ~~are fair~~, and to strengthen the EU’s position when negotiating access for European businesses to third-country public procurement procedures; stresses, however, that these measures must take such a form that they do not lead to inappropriate new partitionings of the market, which in turn might have negative repercussions on European industry and its global trade relations;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Regrets that the public procurement procedures of our principal partners are not as open as those of the European Union; supports the Commission's work to revise EU legislation on public procurement, in particular the introduction of legislation clarifying the provisions on access by third-country businesses to European public procurement procedures, both to ensure that the conditions governing these procedures are fair and to ~~strengthen the EU's position~~ensure equal relationship between the EU's position and third countries when negotiating access for European businesses to third-country public procurement procedures;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Regrets that the public procurement procedures of our principal partners are not as open as those of the European Union; calls for reinforced efforts to increase international commitments – be it through the ongoing negotiations on the Agreement on Government Procurement and the extension of its membership, through the negotiation of FTAs or through targeted bilateral actions; supports the Commission’s work to revise EU legislation on public procurement, in particular the introduction of legislation clarifying the provisions on access by third-country businesses to European public procurement procedures, both to ensure that the conditions governing these procedures are fair and to strengthen the EU’s position when negotiating access for European businesses to third-country public procurement procedures;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recommends looking into regulatory means of ensuring that public procurement contracts for projects funded with EU subsidies may not be awarded to state-owned undertakings from third countries which have signed neither the GPA nor bilateral mutual market opening agreements, or alternatively that in such cases the EU may demand repayment of the subsidies;

Amendment 27 #

Constance LE GRIP

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. SRegrets that, at this stage, only 14 countries~~ses the importance of developing~~ are parties to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and that the market access commitments made by the different parties in the framework of this agreement are asymmetrical; calls on the Commission, in the framework of the development of trade relations between the European Union and China~~; calls, however, on the Commission~~, to maintain a strong stance in negotiations with China on its participation in the ~~Government Procurement Agreement (~~GPA), in order to secure the equal opening of Chinese procurement procedures and equal treatment of European businesses;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of ~~developing trade relations between the European Union and China; calls, however, on the Commission to maintain a strong stance in negotiations with China on its partici~~securing balanced agreements on access to government procurement markets with the EU's trading partners; underlines the need to demand reciprocity of developed countries which are parti~~on in~~es to the Government Procurement Agreement ~~(GPA), in order to secure the equal opening of Chinese procurement procedures and equal treatment of European businesses~~in future reviews thereof;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of developing trade relations between the European Union and China; calls, however, on the Commission to maintain a ~~strong~~positive stance in negotiations with China on its ~~participat~~accession into the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), encouraging China towards greater openness, in order to secure the equal opening of Chinese procurement procedures and equal treatment of European businesses;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission and the Council to continue implementation of the European external market access strategy with a view to removing unjustified non- tariff trade barriers;

Amendment 30 #

Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses ~~the~~in particular the major importance of developing trade relations between the European Union and China; calls, however, on the Commission to maintain a strong stance in negotiations with China on its ~~participation in~~signature of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), in order to secure the equal opening of Chinese procurement procedures and equal treatment of European businesses;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of developing trade relations between the European Union and Cthinard countries; calls, however, on the Commission to maintain a strong stance in negotiations with Cthinard countries on its participation in the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), in order to secure the equal opening of ~~Chinese~~ procurement procedures with third countries and equal treatment of European businesses;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of developing trade relations between the European Union and China; calls, however, on the Commission to maintain a strong stance in negotiations with China on its participation in the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), in order to secure the equal opening of Chinese procurement procedures and equal treatment of European businesses, and to ensure that China’s public procurement procedures comply with international standards and create predictable conditions for tenderers;

Amendment 33 #

Constance LE GRIP

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recalls the importance of foreign direct investments to the European economy and the need to create a stable and attractive environment for European investors abroad and to promote an open investment environment throughout Europe; suggests, however, that in the interests of both sides, it would be desirable to consider at European level evaluating the impact of these investments on the internal market so as to forestall any potential adverse effects on European innovation and know-how in certain strategic sectors;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Urges the Commission to ensure third party compliance with the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement when setting standards and to devise strategies to incentivise fair and equitable standard- setting in those sensitive areas where derogations apply;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Regrets that the Commission pushes for binding liberalisation commitments of services of general economic interest in negotiations for bilateral trade agreements, thereby undermining the quality of public services provision both in the EU and in third-countries; refuses that the pressure to liberalise these services in the context of international trade be used as the main rationale to liberalise them further within the EU Single Market.

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to intensify still further its cooperation with the USA in the context of the Transatlantic Business Dialogue and of the Transatlantic Economic Council, in order to achieve the stated aim of rendering transatlantic trade as barrier-free as possible;

Amendment 37 #

Morten LØKKEGAARD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the need for reciprocity with a view to eliminating barriers to investments; supports the development of open investment environments where foreign direct investments (FDIs) can in principle take place without restrictions – including invisible barriers such as the discriminatory use of different types of administrative treatment;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Underscores the untapped benefits of further transatlantic market integration and endeavours to strengthen upstream regulatory cooperation with the United States Congress, in the framework of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, so as to prevent unintended trade barriers; stresses the potential of combined transatlantic strategies to shape labour, health, safety and environmental standards and international regulatory regimes in areas such as consumer rights and intellectual property rights;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to strengthen policy coordination with the United States in order to ensure sustainable access to raw materials, notably rare earths, ICT network interoperability and the facilitation of SMEs' access to the transatlantic markets.

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission and the Council to continue implementation of the European external market access strategy with a view to removing non-tariff trade barriers and legal restrictions, to facilitate market access for services and investments, to open up public procurement procedures, to improve the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, and to dismantle obstacles to the sustainable supply of raw materials;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission to engage the customs and responsible authorities of major third country export markets, with the objective of diminishing the use of overly stringent or unnecessary inspection procedures on EU-manufactured or assembled products, as a non-tariff and hidden barrier to trade, such as the US 100% scanning of cargo containers requirement;

Amendment 6 #

Constance LE GRIP, Phil PRENDERGAST

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. regards as unjustified all barriers resulting from the incoherent implementation of bilateral and multilateral trade rules; instead regards as justified all barriers resulting from the legitimate legislative and administrative activity of public authorities originating in other than trade scopes but having unintended consequences on trade, whose removal must be subject to public consultation and deliberation

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Supports the proposal contained in the Single Market Act aiming to promote regulatory convergence and the wider adoption of international standards~~; hopes that the structured regulatory dialogues established in this field with some of its partners~~ in particular in the areas of consumer and environmental protection, health and labour standards as well as animal welfare; hopes that the structured regulatory dialogues established in this field with some of its partners, such as the Transatlantic Economic Council with the US, the High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue with China or the High Level Group with Japan, will produce practical results as regards the mutual recognition, convergence and development of rules and standards and that such dialogues will be put in place with other trading partners;

Amendment 8 #

Philippe JUVIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Supports the proposal contained in the Single Market Act aiming to promote regulatory convergence and the wider adoption of EU and international standards, especially in order to avoid social and environmental dumping; hopes that the structured regulatory dialogues established in this field with some of its partners will produce practical results as regards the mutual recognition, convergence and development of rules and standards;

Amendment 9 #

Tokia SAÏFI, Marielle DE SARNEZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Supports the proposal contained in the Single Market Act aiming to promote regulatory convergence and the wider adoption of international standards; hopes that the structured regulatory dialogues established in this field with some of its partners will produce practical results as regards the mutual recognition, convergence and development of rules and standards; emphasises that this structured regulatory dialogue must fully respect the democratic process in the adoption of standards, both in the EU and in its trading partners

source: PE-472.041

2011/09/27 INTA 64 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3

– having regard to its earlier resolutions, in particular resolution of 13 October 2005 on prospects for trade relations between the EU and China, the resolution of 1 June 2006 on EU-US transatlantic economic relations, the resolution of 28 September 2006 on the EU’s economic and trade relations with India, the resolution of 12 October 2006 on economic and trade relations between the EU and Mercosur with a view to the conclusion of an Interregional Association Agreement, the resolution of 22 May 2007 on Global Europe – external aspects of competitiveness, the resolution of 19 June 2007 on EU economic and trade relations with Russia, the resolution of 19 February 2008 on the EU’s Strategy to deliver market access for European companies, the resolution of 24 April 2008 on ‘Towards a reform of the World Trade Organisation’, the resolution of 5 February 2009 on Trade and economic relations with China, the resolution of 26 March 2009 on an EU- India Free Trade Agreement, the resolution of 21 October 2010 on the European Union’s trade relations with Latin America, the resolution of 17 February 2011 on the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Korea, the resolution of 6 April 2011 on European international investment policy, the legislative resolution of 10 May 2011 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing transitional arrangements for bilateral investment agreements between Member States and third countries, the resolution of 11 May 2011 on the state of play in the EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the resolution of 11 May 2011 on EU-Japan Trade relations, the resolution of 8 June 2011 on EU- Canada trade relations, ~~and~~the resolution of 13 September 2011 on an effective raw materials strategy for Europe20, the resolution of XX September 2011 on the New Trade Policy for Europe under the Europe 2020 Strategy~~, __________________~~ and the resolution of XX XXXX 2011 on modernisation of public procurement21, __________________ 20 Texts adopted, P6_TA(2011)0364. 21 Texts adopted, P7_TA- PROV(2011)XXXX.

Amendment 10 #

David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. wh~~ereas the difficulties of European manufacturers on Japan's car market are also due to the slow pace of adoption by Japan of the relevant international standards, considering that Japan has adopted~~ile disappointed that only 40 out of ~~the~~ 1267 UN-ECE Regulations under the 1958 Agreement ~~and that the slow pace of adoption by Japan restricts the benefits of the mutual recognition provisions of the 1958 UN- ECE Agreement; whereas Japan's test cycle to measure emissions~~ have been adopted, acknowledges that these include 30 out of the 47 that concern Passenger Cars (M1), the sector of Japan's market which is most relevandt f~~uel efficiency of light vehicles makes European ones less likely to qualify for the Japanese environmental performance- based tax incentives~~or European car makers. Therefore recognises the important role that the remaining 17 M1 sector issues will play, together with the 70 other items as part of the negotiations of an EU- Japan EIA/FTA;

Amendment 11 #

Tokia SAÏFI, Daniel CASPARY

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas ~~the difficulties of Europea~~European manufacturers have difficulty penetrating the Japanese market, particularly in the automotive, aviation man~~ufacturers o~~d aeronautics sectors and especially in relation to public procurement; whereas, in Japan'’s car market ~~are also~~, these difficulties are chiefly due to the slow pace of adoption by Japan of the relevant international standards, considering that Japan has adopted only 40 out of the 126 UN-ECE Regulations under the 1958 Agreement and that the slow pace of adoption by Japan restricts the benefits of the mutual recognition provisions of the 1958 UN- ECE Agreement; whereas ~~Japan's test cycle to measure emissions and fuel efficiency of light vehicles makes European ones less likely to qualify for the Japanese environmental performance- based tax incentive~~, the EU-Japan Regulatory Reform Dialogue (RRD), launched in 1994, has not yet led to any significant progress on harmonisation or mutual recognition of regulations;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the difficulties of European manufacturers on Japan's car market are also due to the slow pace of adoption by Japan of the relevant international standards, considering that Japan has adopted only 40 out of the 126 UN-ECE Regulations under the 1958 Agreement and that the slow pace of adoption by Japan restricts the benefits of the mutual recognition provisions of the 1958 UN- ECE Agreement; whereas Japan's test cycle to measure emissions and fuel efficiency of light vehicles makes European ones less likely to qualify for the Japanese environmental performance-based tax incentives; which demonstrates the importance of opening negotiations for an FTA with Japan, as an instrument to address and eliminate unnecessary NTBs such as these, especially in light of the current economic climate;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas Japan’s aerospace policy is skewed in favour of American companies, and this is a major problem which the Commission needs to address;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas Russia's increase of export duties on copper from 0% to 10% and on nickel from 5% to 10% since December 2010 has imposed export restrictions on vital raw materials for European industries, primarily the steel sector;deleted

Amendment 15 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ, Tokia SAÏFI, Kader ARIF

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas Russia’s increase of export duties on copper from 0% to 10% and on nickel from 5% to 10% since December 2010, as well as the high export duties on timber, has imposed export restrictions on vital raw materials for European industries, primarily the steel sector and the forestry industry;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) ought to be an effective tool for ensuring transparency and combating speculation on commodity markets;

Amendment 17 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

Gb. whereas NTBs in China have been steadily growing in number in recent years and they could restrict companies’ development, particularly that of SMEs established on Chinese territory;

Amendment 18 #

Tokia SAÏFI, Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas Brazil and Argentina regularly adopt tariff and non-tariff measures that affect European companies unfavourably although they are both involved, as members of Mercosur, in negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU; whereas, moreover, deficiencies in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection and enforcement and the considerable registration backlog in patent and trademark applications affecting various goods, including additional discriminatory requirements for pharmaceuticals, ~~have been~~are reported by EU companies at entry to the Brazilian market,; and considering that the delay in the ratification by Brazil of the Madrid Protocol and the non-accession to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties are both affecting the effective protection of IPR in the country, and ~~considering~~ that sanctions are not deterrent enough to combat IP infringements;

Amendment 19 #

Catherine BEARDER

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)

Ka. whereas the area of clean and renewable energy technology is increasingly the subject of non trade barriers such as local content requirements, public procurement discriminations, favouritism toward national state owned enterprises, restriction on movement of non-national personnel, local sourcing and ownership requirements etc. in countries like China, India, Ukraine, Brazil and Nigeria;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the ~~rule-based~~ multilateral trading system, established through the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is the most suitable framework for ~~regulating and promoting open and fair trade~~the development of fair and equitable global trade rules;

Amendment 20 #

Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)

La. whereas under EU law European and foreign companies can tender for European public contracts without discrimination, and whereas the Union’s partners should do their utmost to grant European companies reciprocal authorisation to tender for public contracts in third countries on fair and equitable terms;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that ~~removing or reducing~~tackling unjustified NTBs and other regulatory obstacles ~~should be the key regulatory~~of the EU's key strategic partner countries by means of regulatory dialogue should be one of the priorityies of the new EU trade policy under the Europe 2020 Strategy; regards as unjustified all barriers resulting from the incoherent implementation of bilateral and multilateral trade rules; instead regards as justified all barriers resulting from the legitimate legislative and administrative activity of public authorities originating in other than trade scopes but having unintended consequences on trade, whose removal must be subject to public consultation and deliberation;

Amendment 22 #

Kader ARIF, Tokia SAÏFI, Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that removing or reducing unjustified NTBs and other unjustified regulatory obstacles should be ~~the~~one of key regulatory priorityies of the new EU trade policy under the Europe 2020 Strategy, - respecting the right, and the obligation, of all states to enhance human rights, environmental rules, social rules and public health;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that removing or reducing NTBs and other unjustified regulatory obstacles should be ~~the key~~a regulatory priority of the new EU trade policy under the Europe 2020 Strategy;

Amendment 24 #

Catherine BEARDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that removing or reducing NTBs and other regulatory obstacles should be the key regulatory priority of the new EU trade policy under the Europe 2020 Strategy, especially for sectors like clean technology which are key to the overall success of this strategy;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to systematically address the great variety, technical complexity and political sensitivity of NTBs as part of a holistic strategy, in~~cluding enhanced regulatory dialogue, with respect to all EU's trading partners, particularly with those of strategic importance~~ the appropriate fora of regulatory dialogue, such as the Committees reviewing the implementation of bilateral FTAs, the relevant committees of the WTO and the standard-setting agencies of the UN;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to systematically address the great variety, technical complexity and political sensitivity of NTBs as part of a holistic strategy, including enhanced regulatory dialogue, with respect to all EU's trading partners, particularly with those of strategic importance; considers in particular that the relevant committees of the WTO and the standard-setting agencies of the UN are appropriate fora to discuss these regulatory changes;

Amendment 27 #

Catherine BEARDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to build on the example set in the EU-Korea FTA and to seek in all future FTAs, to secure the elimination of all tariffs and non-tariff barriers affecting the export of EU clean technologies; furthermore. considers that the removal of 'green' barriers should be a major aim of the Commission’s forthcoming proposal on third country access to public procurement;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Insists that it is of utmost importance to always duly differentiate between unjustified and justified measures of national authorities and to employ the term NTB strictly to unjustified measures; recalls that EU trade partners maintain a range of challenges in front of the TBT Committee of the WTO against justified measures of the EU regarding public health and environmental standards, such as REACH;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to draw a clear distinction between those NTBs which give rise to unfair distortions of competition and those which reflect legitimate public-policy aims, notably in relation to public health and the protection of the environment; emphasises, for example, that the European laws on GMOs and the health and plant-health related rules affecting agriculture cannot be regarded as unfair NTBs but should, on the contrary, be defended in the international trade arena;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the rule-based multilateral trading system, established through the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is- reformed in order to turn it more democratic and efficient, and with clarified relations with other key international organizations such as ILO, UNCTAD, FAO, the Human Rights Council, the IMF and the World Bank-, would be the most suitable framework for regulating and promoting open and fair trade;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. calls on the Commission to defend in the appropriate fora the capacity of the EU to freely set new regulatory standards, in particular but not exclusively regarding consumer protection, the environment, public health and social justice, without any prejudice with regard to their possible impact on trade; calls on the Commission to equally respect the regulatory sovereignty of the EU's trade partners;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. emphasises that the structured regulatory dialogues envisioned in bilateral FTAs must fully respect the democratic process in the adoption of standards, both in the EU and in its trading partners;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Insists that the tackling of ~~NTBs~~unjustified NTBs and the adoption of a regulatory framework concerning the obligations of investors regarding corporate responsibility must be regarded as a top priorityies on the Commission's agenda, ~~in particular through the harmonisation of technical rules on the basis~~on the basis of the improvement of international standards;

Amendment 33 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ, Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Insists that the tackling of NTBs ~~must~~is an inter-service task involving different DGs of the Commission and should be regarded as a ~~top~~ priority on the Commission's regulatory outreach agenda, in particular through the harmonisation of technical rules on the basis of international standards;

Amendment 34 #

Robert STURDY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Requests the Commission to systematically use appropriate channels of its cooperation with like-minded partners to address NTBs and regulatory obstacles in third countries with a view to developing joint strategies for the removal of these barriers;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Considers that insistence on reciprocity of market access for industrialised and emerging countries should be an integral part of EU trade strategy, on a par with the removal or lowering of NTBs;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to address these widespread and persistent issues in all plurilateral and bilateral trade agreements, especially Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and to ensure that NTBs are given at least as much attention as is currently afforded tariff elimination, particularly in its negotiations with industrialised and emerging economies; emphasises that, in the field of cooperation with developing countries, priority must be accorded to aid for trade and to technical and financial assistance, to help such countries improve their regulatory environment while taking account of their specific needs in terms of developing their internal markets and protecting their embryonic industries and their agricultural structures, which in many cases are vulnerable;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers that, with regard to raw materials, the Commission should pursue a sustainable, comprehensive and cross- policy strategy, while recognising that export restrictions and export taxes may be seen as important for the support of development objectives, the protection of the environment or the sustainable exploitation of natural resources in poorer developing countries such as LDCs and SIDs;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that the European Parliament should ~~focus in future~~take more attention on the manner in which unjustified NTBs have been addressed when assessing trade agreements ~~to ensure access for European exporters and investors, in particular SMEs, to third country markets~~;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the EU should continue giving priority to achieving a balanced outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), which would support developing countries' integration in the international trading system and contribute to enforcing multilateral trade rules among all its members;deleted

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that the European Parliament should focus in future on the manner in which unjustified NTBs have been addressed when assessing trade agreements to ensure access for European exporters and investors, in particular SMEs, to third country markets, while at the same time respecting the need for special, differentiated treatment for developing countries;

Amendment 41 #

Robert STURDY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Encourages the Commission to continue its efforts to maintain an up-to- date inventory of key barriers faced by EU exporters or investors in important third country markets, in particular FTA partners, including the number and nature of concerns raised by Member States and companies, as a tool for the assessment of the situation in the third countries;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Reminds the Commission that European IPR policy towards developing countries should remain within the TRIPS agreement obligations and must fully respect the 2001 Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public Health, especially in the field of generic medicines and public health, so as to leave the developing countries policy space to address public interest concerns;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Points out that export taxes are one of the few remaining trade policy tools at the disposal of developing countries with which to pursue development goals; calls on the EU to refrain from attempting to ban the use of export taxes at the WTO and in bilateral trade agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as it would limit their policy space to use this tool for value-addition, diversification, infant industry protection, food security, revenue and environmental considerations;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Is of the opinion that, although no direct link can be made at this point in time between specific NTBs and other regulatory hindrances EU companies face when trying to access foreign markets, on the one hand, and actual job losses in the EU Member States on the other hand, it would be advisable for the Commission, in consultation with other relevant international organisations, to investigate whether there is a correlation between specific NTBs and actual jobs losses;deleted

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Is of the opinion that, although no direct link can be made at this point in time between specific NTBs and other regulatory hindrances EU companies face when trying to access foreign markets, on the one hand, and actual job losses in the EU Member States on the other hand, it would be advisable for the CommissionConsiders that the Commission should investigate, in consultation with other relevant international organisations, ~~to investigate~~ whether there is a correlation between specific NTBs ~~and actual~~in the EUs and in third countries and job creation and jobs losses in the EU;

Amendment 46 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ, Kader ARIF

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Points out that the Commission should duly explore the possibility of developing and establishing a~~n early warning~~ mechanism to detect unjustified NTBs and strengthen its existing analytical tools for a qualitative evaluation thereof;

Amendment 47 #

Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Points out that the Commission should duly explore the possibility of developing and establishing an early warning mechanism to detect NTBs and strengthen its existing analytical tools for a qualitative evaluation thereof; proposes that this mechanism should work via the Commission delegations based in third countries, in cooperation with the bodies already set up by Member States;

Amendment 48 #

Kader ARIF, Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Points out that the Commission should duly explore the possibility of developing and establishing an early warning mechanism to detect unjustified NTBs and strengthen its existing analytical tools for a qualitative evaluation thereof;

Amendment 49 #

Gianluca SUSTA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Urges the Commission to improve international regulatory cooperation, including in multilateral fora, and convergence of regulatory requirements on the basis of international standards and where possible engage in regulatory dialogue to address existing or potential future barriers to trade with a view to limiting disputes and associated trade costs;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the EU should continue giving priority to achieving a balanced outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), which would support developing countries'’ – and particularly the least developed countries’ – integration in the international trading system and contribute to e~~nforcing~~stablishing fairer and more equitable multilateral trade rules among all its members;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the Commission to ~~promote the spread of public procurement disciplines based on international standards as developed in the Government Procurement Agreement and to use or expand existing regulatory dialogues~~use or expand existing regulatory dialogues among the parties to the Government Procurement Agreement in order to enhance cooperation on the regulatory framework and the removal of existing direct and indirect discriminatory practices;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the Commission to promote the spread of public procurement disciplines based on international standards as developed in the Government Procurement Agreement and to use or expand existing regulatory dialogues to enhance cooperation on the regulatory framework and the re~~moval~~structuring of existing direct and indirect discriminatory practices in the relations of the EU with its industrialized partners countries;

Amendment 52 #

Kader ARIF, Marielle DE SARNEZ, Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the Commission to promote the spread of public procurement disciplines based on international standards as developed in the Government Procurement Agreement and to use or expand existing regulatory dialogues, as well as increasing the number of parties to the Agreement, in order to enhance cooperation on the regulatory framework and the removal of existing direct and indirect discriminatory practices;

Amendment 53 #

Juozas IMBRASAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the Commission to promote the spread of public procurement disciplines based on international standards as developed in the Government Procurement Agreement and to use or expand existing regulatory dialogues, as well as increasing the number of parties to the Agreement, in order to enhance cooperation on the regulatory framework and the removal of existing direct and indirect discriminatory practices;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Believes that one of the keys to lowering NTBs to trade and investment is reform of the Government Procurement Agreement in the WTO, with due regard to the multifunctional nature of procurement policies; calls on the major emerging economies to participate in this process and to sign and ratify the future agreement without delay;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. agrees with the Commission on the need to strengthen the EU’s position in negotiations on application of the principle of reciprocity in the public procurement sector and on fair access for EU companies to third countries’ markets, and to clarify the rules governing conditions of access for third- country companies, products or services in public procurement in the EU;

Amendment 56 #

Juozas IMBRASAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages EU businesses and exporters to make use of the existing channels, including the TBR complaints or the complaints register in the Market Access Database, to report ~~material injuries resulting from all kinds of~~on unjustified trade barriers;

Amendment 58 #

Kader ARIF, Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages EU businesses and exporters to make use of the existing channels, including the TBR complaints or the complaints register in the Market Access Database, to report material injuries resulting from all kinds of unjustified trade barriers;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Points out that export taxes should not be considered as a NTB; regards export taxes as a trade policy tool at the disposal of developing countries which can be used to pursue development goals; in particular, underlines that export taxes are permitted under the WTO rules, and that the majority of WTO members using export taxes are developing and least developed countries; therefore, urges the EU to refrain from attempting to ban the use of export taxes for Least Developed Countries at the WTO and in bilateral trade agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as it would limit their policy space to use this tool for value-addition, diversification, infant industry protection, food security, revenue and environmental considerations;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the WTO International Trade Statistics for the period 2000-2009 show a substantial increase in trade exchanges for those regions which have opened up their markets by lifting or significantly reducing barriers to trade; but at the same time a joint ILO-WTO report has shown that during the financial crisis, countries more open to trade experienced more external trade shocks which resulted in significant job losses both in industrialized and developing countries 22; __________________ 22 Joint WTO-ILO report, Globalization and informal jobs in developing countries, 2009.

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Notes with concern the tendency to regard domestic regulations on services as constituting NTBs; emphasises that service liberalisation commitments must not impair the ability of governments to impose performance and quality controls on environmental services and other service providers, neither in the EU nor in partner countries;

Amendment 61 #

David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Demands that the Commission treat the resolution of outstanding NTBs as priority in the forthcoming negotiations for an EU-Japan EIA/FTA;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. In accordance with the EU-US Trade Principles for ICT Services (signed with the United States under TEC), urges the Commission to fully review and address discriminatory or disproportionate regulations, liabilities and other legislative methods against ICT networks and services to restrict open flow of information, market access for services, and further the digital divide;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Due priority is given to trade and investment barriers that affects European services sectors, inter alia ICT & telecommunication, professional & business services, financial services, construction, retail and distribution; these non-tariff measures, including domestic regulations, ownership restrictions and various crisis measures (including discriminatory provisions in public procurement), are of particular importance given the higher value-added of services trade and the EU's position as largest exporter of services;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Create a mediation mechanism in the WTO to facilitate the removal of non tariff barriers in a constructive, effective, rapid and non-confrontational manner, inspired by the SOLVIT system, in accordance with earlier similar suggestions from both the EU and India;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas public procurement procedures in the EU’s strategic partner countries tend to be closed to foreign participants and are still relatively unaffected by international commitments, while the EU is much more open than other countries in this regard;

Amendment 8 #

Juozas IMBRASAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Amendment 9 #