44 Amendments of Paolo DE CASTRO related to 2019/2197(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Communication on the Global EU response to COVID-19, JOIN(2020) 11 final, of 8 April 2020
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Communication “Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa”, JOIN(2020) 4 final of 9 March 2020.
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the G20 Trade Ministers statements of 30March and 14 May 2020
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas while significant parts ofthe first Parliament’s resolution of 30 May 2018 on the implementation of the Common Commercial Policy remain valobtained a wid,e some other parts need to be updated due to the new developments and configuration in international trade worldwide;upport on its approach towards a rules, value based and predictable trade system; whereas new developments since 2018, notably the implementation of the EU- Canada trade agreement and most recently the effects of the COVID19 pandemic on trade make necessary a throughout update of the previous report
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas recent Eurobarometer figures show that around 60 % of the EU citizens believe that the EU’s trade policy brings benefits for them; whereas part of the public opinion is strongly vocal againstparts of the public opinion have different perception on trade policy and trade agreements; whereascalls on the Commission and the Member States must continue to develop a proper communication strategy on trade policy and trade agreements, which aims to tackle fake news on trade and to transmit as much information as possible, while targeting specific stakeholders and raising economic operators’ awareness about trade agreements;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas on 30 April the EU together with eighteen WTO members formally notified the ‘Multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement’ (MPIA) to the WTO; whereas this notification marks the start of the application of the MPIA to disputes arising between the participating WTO members in view of the stalemate of the Appellate Body (AB).
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas on 14 March2020 the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402 under an urgency procedure to make the export of personal protective equipment subject to export authorisation in line with Regulation (EU) 2015/479 as a temporary measure that serves to help the EU face the surge in demand and prepare the EU's operational capacity to help out third countries.
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas many countries impose tariffs on medical devices including patient monitors, diagnostic equipment and common medicines like antibiotics, painkillers, or insulin and virtually all countries charge import tariffs on soap; whereas tariffs have been exacerbated by the United States decision to impose additional duties on USD 370 billion in imports from China which include some aspects of PPE;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
B d. whereas G20 Trade Ministers have committed to mitigate the impacts of COVID19 on international trade and investment by continuing to working together to deliver a free, fair, non discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment, and by keep our markets open to ensure the continued flow of vital medical supplies and equipment, critical agricultural products, and other essential goods and services across border.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
B e. whereas 36 million jobs in the EU depend on exports outside the EU, out of which 13,7 million are occupied by women; whereas women are largely under-represented in extra-EU trade in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors; whereas only one in five exporting companies in the EU is led (i.e.owned and/or managed) by a woman and women account for 30% or less of the total workforce; calls on the EU and its Member States to include in ex-ante and ex-post impact assessments the country- specific and sector-specific gender impact of EU trade policy and agreements; stresses that the results of the gender- focused analysis should be taken into account in trade negotiations – considering both positive and negative impact throughout the whole process, from the negotiation stage to implementation – and should be accompanied by measures to prevent or compensate possible negative effects1a _________________ 1aEuropean Parliament resolution of 13 March 2018 on gender equality in EU trade agreements (2017/2015(INI).
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that despite the difficult global economic climate, the EU recorded a surplus of €84.6 billion in trade in goods with its trade agreement partners, compared to its overall trade deficit with the rest of the world of about €24.6 billion; recalls that over 36 million jobs being supported by exports to outside of the EU; notes that significant aspects of the global context have been shifting and have proven to be unpredictable in the last two years; reiterates its support for a rules- based, predictable and fair trading system that needs to be safeguarded;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that since the Commission adopted its latest trade strategy in 2015, entitled ‘Trade for All’, the EU has concluded and started applying a number of new trade agreements, notably the EU- Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA); the EU-Singapore and the EU-Vietnam FTA's.
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Insists that EU trade strategy must continue to promote human rights, EU interests and values when contending with new challenges worldwide in order to keep and increase the competitiveness of its industry; considers, therefore, that an ambitious multilateral, plurilateral and plurbilateral agenda, the conclusion of mutually balanced, win-win trade agreements and their effective implementation and the elimination of unjustified trade barriers constitute the best way to make the EU more competitive in a globalised world
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that choices in our relationship with the two other trade superpowers, China and the USA, which represent approximately 30 % of our trade exchanges, are key when it comes to driving EU trade policy;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that it is a critical moment for multilateralism and for the globDeeply regrets the impasse of the WTO and the multilateral trading system;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a substantive reform of on the Commission to work with the other WTO, based on members to carry forward an ambitious reform to modernisinge its rule- book in order to make it more effective by providing structural and long-term solutions; encoto ensure a true level playing field for trading companies, respectful of social and environmental standards; urages WTO members to reach an ambitious and balanced agreement on the long-standing issue of fishery subsidies during the ministerial summit in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan and send out a clear signal that the WTO is still able to deliver on its negotiating functionthe Commission, in this respect, to negotiate new rules to fight trade - distortive practices, including non market policies and practices, SOEs and industrial subsides, leading to overcapacity, forced technology transfer policies and practices;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Urges WTO members to reach an ambitious and balanced agreement on the long-standing issue of fishery subsidies during the next ministerial summit and send out a clear signal that the WTO is still able to deliver on its negotiating function new recalls the importance of functional dispute settlement arbitration court for EU industry; regrets the current impasse of the WTO dispute settlement body;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls for the adoption of a global catalogue of essential emergency healthcare products within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in order to stop price speculation and facilitate their trade; strongly encourages all countries to join the WTO Pharmaceutical Tariff Elimination Agreement (Zero for Zero) and for its scope to be extended to all pharmaceutical and medicinal products to ensure worldwide cross-border trade; calls on WTO members to make this topic a priority on the agenda of the next WTO Ministerial Meeting;1b _________________ 1bEuropean Parliament resolution of 17 April 2020 on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences (2020/2616(RSP))
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Recalls that emergency trade measures designed to tackle COVID-19, if deemed necessary, must be targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary, and that they shall not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption to global supply chains, are consistent with WTO rules;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Welcomes the multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (MPIA), a new system that will allow the EU, together with other participating WTO members, to over come the current paralysis of the WTO’s Appellate Body and solve trade disputes amongst themselves;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Welcomes the progress on negotiations for the Multilateral Investment Court; notes that the International Court System, ICS, is intended to be a stepping stone towards the MIC; regrets the extremely slow progress of Member States dismantling intra-EUBITs; urges the Commission to take action where appropriate;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes note ofDeeply regrets the dramatic change in the US trade strategy over the past three years, which is focused on bilateral trade and often legally questionable unilateral trade measures; takes note of the limited progress made towards implementing the joint US-EU Statement of 25 July 2018; stresses the importance of relaunching the EU-US talks on the basis of the existing negotiating mandates adopted in April 2019 by the Council;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that despite recent tensions in transatlantic relations, the EU should continue to work with the USA as a partner, with whom it has to find solutions to trade issues of common interest;, such as the effects of the extra-territorial application of laws adopted by the US, which are contrary to international law.
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Invites the Commission to find negotiated solutions with the USA, which include the issue of civil aircraft subsidies, and to reach a deal to ending the illegal imposition of US steel and aluminium tariffs; recalls the agreement found on the allocation of higher share in the tariff rate quota for high-quality beef with the purpose of reducing tensions in transatlantic relations while safeguarding EU interests in the agricultural sector; recalls its previous calls on the US to withdraw the anti-dumping and countervailing duties on ripe olives from Spain.
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages the Commission to negotiate an ambitious investment agreement, with an effective TSD chapter, which removes all barriers to EU investments, and looks forward to a conclusion of the negotiations by the end of 2020 as agreed in the EU-China Summit in 2019; firmly believes, however, that substance of the agreement should be prioritised over the speed of its conclusion;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Acknowledges the promising outcome presented in the Commission’s report regarding the implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs), in particular South Korea, Central and Latin America, Canada, Eastern partners, and African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) countries; stresses that EU trade agreements have a clear track record of, in most cases, reaching their primary objective of creating significant opportunities for EU exporters on third- country trade markets;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reiterates its concern over the poor use of preference utilisation in the EU’s FTAs; notes, in particular, a large divergence in utilisation by the EU’s exporters in different agreements and little divergence in utilisation between the EU’s importers; calls on the Commission to further analyse preference utilisation; highlights the importance of flexible, streamlined, and easy rules of origin in this regard; calls on the Commission together with the Member States to streamline work towards more effective trade promotion and communication strategies and to use the full potential of the EU Delegations around the world;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. CWelcomes the publication of the Joint Communication for a comprehensive EU-Africa Strategy; calls on the European Union to engage more with African countries in order to create an effective and solid partnership that would promote effectivesustainable economic development and growth in the African continent; stresses that the figures of the recent report of 10 February 2020 on the General Scheme of Preferences (GSP) covering the period 2018-2019 show an increase of the utilisation rate of the preferences by the countries benefitting from the scheme; calls on the Commission to increase its technical and economic aid for developing tradesupport via aid for trade measures between the EU and African countries as well as among the African countries themselves; notes in this regard that aid for trade should be a key component in trade relations with Africa in the aftermath of the COVID- 19crisis;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the entry into force of the EU-Singapore trade agreement of 21 November 2019; welcomes its consent onprogress towards implementation of the EU- Vietnam agreement and calls for its quick implementacontinued speedy progress, notably in the establishment of joint institutions and the ratification of outstanding core ILO Conventions; views these agreements as a step towards concluding an FTA with the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Underlines its determination to establish the closest relationship possible with the United Kingdom, based on the principles regarding trade, investments and competitiveness, as set out in its resolution of 12 February 2020 on the proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland7 ; notes that the Political Declaration of 17 October 2019 supported by the United Kingdom states that the future economic partnership will be underpinned by provisions ensuring a level playing field for open and fair competition, especially if no agreement if reached before the end of 2020; _________________ 7 Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0033.
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Encourages the Commission to seize the momentum caused by the UK’s withdrawal to streamline our EU-policies, cut red tape and enhance competitiveness for EU companies and small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs); stresses that the FTA should aim to allow for the closest possible market access and trade facilitation in order to minimise trade disruptions and to ensure a level playing field;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. WelcomNotes the conclusions of the trade negotiations with Mexico and the MERCOSUR counimportance of strengthening mutually beneficial trade and political relations with Latin America; stries, which have both the potential to deepen our strategic partnership with Latin America and to create additional opportunities in our trade relations with those countries; notes that such opportunses the importance of the recently concluded modernisation of the EU- Mexico Association agreement; notes that the association agreement with the Mercosur countries has not been concluded yet; invities would also give EU companies access to an increasingly growing market;the Commission to clarify its intention concerning future trade and association agreements on the issue of the split of the text.
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls its position expressed in its previous report on the implementation of the CCP; underlines that the 15-point action plan of 27 February 20188 set out by the Commission services represents a good basis for reflection in order to impropoints out that the new- generation agreements include human rights clauses and sustainable development chapters, to be implemented comprehensively in their entirety in order to safeguard and promote the observance of human rights, the Union’s values and high labour, social and environmental standards; notes the evaluation of the sustainable development chapters included in the Commission report on implementation of FTAs and calls for a timely implementation of existing TSD provisions; asks the Commission to develop a precise and specific methodology of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of these chapters, given the mechanisms in trade andat such an evaluation cannot be made on the basis of quantitative data only; calls on the Commission to present proposals on how to strengthen the enforcement of the sustainable development (TSD) chapters; _________________ 8 https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/inde x.cfm?id=1803 in trade agreements, in light of the initiative launched by DG JUST for mandatory due diligence for EU companies, including the consideration of mandatory due diligence in EU trade agreements and a sanctions- based enforcement mechanism among other options.
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. BWelievcomes that the current system already demonstrates some efficiency, as seen in the framework of the EU-Korea FTA in which the EU has requested the establishment of a panele establishment of a panel at the request of the EU under the EU-Korea FTA following South Korea’s failure to ratify International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions on workers’ rights, notably on freedom of association and collective bargaining;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Recalls that the early efforts of the Commission and Parliament in the trade negotiations with Mexico and Vietnam paid off withsuccessfully encouraged the ratification by both countries respectively in November 2018 and July 2019 of the ILO Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining; congratulates both countries for such an important step;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Believes that TSD chapters in trade agreements should drive the external dimension of the European Green Deal, and any new adjustment mechanism should be compatible with WTO rules as well as EU FTAs; stresses that EU companies that are users of intermediate goods should not be put at a competitive disadvantage;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Calls on EU leaders and the Commission to take bold decisions regarding the reform of the EU own resources system, including the introduction of a basket of new own resources; reaffirms its position, as set out in the MFF interim report, regarding the list of potential candidates for new own resources: a common consolidated corporate tax base, digital services taxation, a financial transaction tax, income from the emissions trading scheme, a plastics contribution and a WTO compatible carbon border adjustment mechanism;1c _________________ 1cEuropean Parliament resolution of 15 May 2020 on the new multiannual financial framework, own resources and the recovery plan (2020/2631(RSP))
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Notes that the EU trade and investment policy should be used as leverage towards responsible management of supply chains, which include ensuring that businesses uphold human rightseffective due diligence in supply chains must be central to EU trade and investment policy in order to uphold human rights, labour rights and environmental standards and ensure access to justice; recalls that voluntary measures have been largely ineffective; welcomes commitments from the Commission that it will present a legislative proposal by 2021;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Recalls that the efforts to keep rules-based trade must play a crucial role in our trade strategy and in this context recalls the adoption on the modernisation of trade defence instruments in 2018, and the new foreign investment screening mechanism; stresses that the new foreign investment screening mechanism should never be a tool for protectionism; ;calls on the Commission for an effective TDIs enforcement to protect European industry from unfair market practices and for the evaluation and reinforcement of the safeguard instruments in order to make them more responsive to extraordinary circumstances and better adapted to protect European industry by effectively anticipating market disruptions from trade flow;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Calls on the Council for a rapid and swift agreement on the International Procurement Instrument in order to provide legal security, reciprocity and a level playing field to EU operators; calls for the inclusion of a global catalogue of essential emergency healthcare products to avoid in the future abuses by third country providers' in international trade during a global pandemic;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Points out that the share of trade in services in the overall trade picture is underestimated; stresses that the EU is by far the world’s biggest exporter of services and that services represent about 70 % %of the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP); highlights in particular the relative resilience of trade in services during the COVID-19 crisis and underlines its role in the economic recovery in Europe;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Underlines the need to facilitate international recovery efforts through open and fair trade including through digital trade which necessitates a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions and an advancement of WTO e-commerce negotiations;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35 b. Underlines that foreign direct investment into the EU and the acquisition of healthcare and other key infrastructure by foreign investors has the potential to harm EU efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe; welcomes in this regard the Communication from the Commission on Guidance to the Member States ahead of the application of the FDI Screening Regulation; urges Member States which have not yet established a screening mechanism to do so urgently; further calls on all Member States to use all available tools to ensure effective mechanisms are in place to assess potential investment and acquisitions for threats to critical health infrastructure in the EU, and to take mitigating or blocking measures as needed;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes that SMEs account for approximately 30 % of the EU goods exports; supports the idea that a specific chapter on SMEs should be part of all proposed FTAs, as done in the EU-Japan agreement and Mexico, and that they should be included when revising existing FTAs; notes that trade barriers and bureaucracy are especially problematic for SMEs that cannot afford the extra work to overcome them; calls on the Commission to continue its efforts to support MSMEs, with specific focus on, and measures for women-led MSMEs; calls on the EU and its Member States to pay particular attention to the special circumstances of women-led MSMEs when establishing export help-desks, to take advantage of the possibilities created by FTAs and to strengthen services, technologies and infrastructures (such as access to internet) that are of particular importance to the economic empowerment of women and women-led MSMEs; calls on the Commission to help set up partnerships between female entrepreneurs in the EU and their counterparts in developing countries1d _________________ 1dEuropean Parliament resolution of 13 March 2018 on gender equality in EU trade agreements (2017/2015(INI))