BETA


2018/2084(INI) WTO: the way forward

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead INTA RÜBIG Paul (icon: PPE PPE), LANGE Bernd (icon: S&D S&D) MCCLARKIN Emma (icon: ECR ECR), KATAINEN Elsi (icon: ALDE ALDE), BUCHNER Klaus (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), BEGHIN Tiziana (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion DEVE Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ (icon: S&D S&D), Florent MARCELLESI (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2019/03/26
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2018/11/29
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2018/11/29
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 471 votes to 80, with 86 abstentions, a resolution on WTO: the way forward.

Members recalled that, since its creation the WTO has played a pivotal role in strengthening multilateralism, promoting an inclusive world economic order and fostering an open, rules-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. However, they pointed out that currently, the rules-based multilateral trading system is facing its deepest crisis ever , with both its negotiating function as well as the dispute settlement mechanism being threatened .

In this respect, they noted that the results of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017 were disappointing, and clearly showed that the negotiating function of the organisation is paralysed .

Members also noted that the Appellate Body is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the WTO owing to the binding character of its decisions and its status as an independent and impartial review body. However, the Appellate Body’s membership fell to the minimum number of judges it needs to function, leaving only three judges appointed.

This deadlock, caused by the US administration , could lead to the collapse of a system that is essential to managing disputes among all WTO members.

Reaffirming its commitment to multilateralism, Parliament called for a trade agenda based on fair and rules-based trade for the benefit of all, which contributes to peace, security and the sustainable development agenda by including and enhancing social, environmental and human rights. It stressed that the WTO must also contribute to promoting fair trade and combating unfair practices.

In the light of recent developments but also the long lack of progress on the Doha Development Agenda, Members called for the modernisation of the WTO and invited the Commission to reach out to other WTO members, in particular our major trading partners such as the US, Japan, China, Canada, Brazil and India, in order to agree on common positions.

Parliament made recommendations regarding:

addressing current gaps in the rulebook in order to level the playing field as regards market-distorting subsidies and state-owned enterprises, as well as keeping intellectual property protection and investment market access up to date; addressing issues of protection and forced source code disclosure and other state- directed activities giving rise to overcapacities, as well as regulatory barriers to services and investment including technology transfers, requirements of joint ventures and local content requirements; creating the necessary regulatory framework to cope with technological developments by covering e-commerce, global value chains, public procurement, updated domestic regulation for services; mastering the most pressing global environmental and social challenges , ensuring systemic policy coherence between trade, labour and environmental agendas.

Members also considered it necessary to:

review the current differentiation between developed and developing countries and review the mechanism for special and differential treatment to better reflect human development indices, as a policy tool for developing countries to link the implementation of multilateral agreements to receiving assistance from richer countries and donor agencies; support the concept of flexible multilateralism , whereby WTO Members interested in pursuing a certain issue where full consensus is not yet possible should be able to advance and conclude plurilateral agreements; introduce special rules for SMEs in plurilateral and multilateral agreements; define a systemic gender perspective in all areas of WTO rule-making in the form of gender impact assessments.

Parliament viewed the decision of the US to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium products on 31 May 2018 on grounds of ‘national security’ under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 as unjustified and strongly encouraged the Commission to work with the US to address trade disagreements within the WTO’s rules-based dispute settlement framework.

Lastly, Members urged the WTO members to ensure democratic legitimacy and transparency by strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the WTO, and to support a memorandum of understanding establishing a formal working relationship with the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.

Documents
2018/11/29
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2018/11/28
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2018/11/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on International Trade adopted an own initiative report by Bernd Lange (S&D, DE) and Paul Rübig (EPP, AT) on WTO: the way forward.

It stated that, since its creation the WTO has played a pivotal role in strengthening multilateralism, promoting an inclusive world economic order and fostering an open, rules-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. However, Members point out that currently, the rules-based multilateral trading system is facing its deepest crisis ever , with both its negotiating function as well as the dispute settlement mechanism being threatened . In this respect, they noted that the results of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017 were disappointing, and clearly showed that the negotiating function of the organisation is paralysed . They also noted that the Appellate Body is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the WTO owing to the binding character of its decisions and its status as an independent and impartial review body. However, the Appellate Body’s membership fell to the minimum number of judges it needs to function, leaving only three judges appointed. The committee noted that this deadlock, caused by the US administration , could lead to the collapse of a system that is essential to managing disputes among all WTO members. It also noted that the concerns expressed by the US regarding the Appellate Body extend beyond procedural changes and entail significant reforms to the rulings of the body’s judges.

Members reiterated their full commitment to the enduring value of multilateralism, and a free, fair and rules-based multilateral trading order that supports social, environmental and human rights, contributing to peace and security. They felt that is was now a matter of urgency to proceed to the modernisation of the WTO, not only in the light of the latest developments but also owing to the long-standing lack of progress on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). The Commission and the EU Member States in the WTO were asked to reach out to other WTO members, in particular the EU’s major trading partners such as the US, Japan, China, Canada, Brazil and India, in order to agree on common positions. The committee took note of the European Council’s conclusions and the mandate given by to the Commission on 28-29 June 2018, as well as of the Commission's concept paper on WTO modernisation of 18 September 2018.

The committee made recommendations regarding:

addressing current gaps in the rulebook in order to level the playing field as regards market-distorting subsidies and state-owned enterprises, as well as keeping intellectual property protection and investment market access up to date; addressing issues of protection and forced source code disclosure and other state- directed activities giving rise to overcapacities, as well as regulatory barriers to services and investment including technology transfers, requirements of joint ventures and local content requirements; creating the necessary regulatory framework to cope with technological developments by covering e-commerce, global value chains, public procurement, updated domestic regulation for services.

The committee also felt that it is necessary to:

revisit the classification of countries into developed and developing, and re-examine the special and differential treatment (S&DT) mechanism in order to better reflect human development indexes ; ensure that trade plays a part in contributing to development and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and of the Paris Agreement commitments in the fight against climate change; revise the functioning of the negotiating process by introducing more flexibility than has currently been the case under the consensus rule, and support the concept of flexible multilateralism, whereby WTO members interested in pursuing a certain issue where full consensus is not yet possible should be able to conclude plurilateral agreements. However, such agreements must complement and not undermine the multilateral agenda and should be used not as alternative fora to address trade barriers.

Members viewed the decision of the US to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium products on 31 May 2018 on grounds of ‘national security’ under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 as unjustified and strongly encouraged the Commission to work with the US to address trade disagreements within the WTO’s rules-based dispute settlement framework.

Lastly, Members urged the WTO members to ensure democratic legitimacy and transparency by strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the WTO , and to support a memorandum of understanding establishing a formal working relationship with the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.

Documents
2018/11/20
   EP - Vote in committee
2018/10/15
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2018/10/11
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/09/10
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2018/06/14
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2018/05/16
   EP - RÜBIG Paul (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2018/05/16
   EP - LANGE Bernd (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in INTA

Documents

Votes

A8-0379/2018 - Bernd Lange et Paul Rübig - Résolution 29/11/2018 12:13:44.000 #

2018/11/29 Outcome: +: 471, 0: 86, -: 80
DE PL IT ES RO GB BE BG FR SE HU CZ SK AT FI PT LT NL HR DK SI IE LV EE MT LU CY ?? EL
Total
80
45
57
43
27
59
21
16
63
20
18
18
11
18
10
17
9
24
9
11
8
10
6
5
5
4
6
1
14
icon: PPE PPE
182

United Kingdom PPE

1

Finland PPE

2

Lithuania PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

1

Greece PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
166

Czechia S&D

3

Finland S&D

1

Netherlands S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ECR ECR
60

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Sweden ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

2

Finland ECR

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Denmark ECR

2

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Cyprus ECR

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
57

Germany ALDE

3

Romania ALDE

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Portugal ALDE

1

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
43

Spain Verts/ALE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

6

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

France Verts/ALE

3

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

Against (1)

Abstain (2)

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Croatia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
16

Germany NI

Against (1)

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

France NI

Against (1)

1

Hungary NI

Against (1)

1

Denmark NI

1

NI

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
39

Germany EFDD

For (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
30

Germany ENF

For (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

Belgium ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

4
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
42

Italy GUE/NGL

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

Against (1)

4
AmendmentsDossier
142 2018/2084(INI)
2018/09/03 DEVE 64 amendments...
source: 627.038
2018/10/15 INTA 78 amendments...
source: 628.685

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2018-11-20T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2018-12-10T00:00:00 body: EP type: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
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  • date: 2018-09-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE626.768 title: PE626.768 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2018-10-11T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.346&secondRef=02 title: PE625.346 committee: DEVE type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2018-10-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE628.685 title: PE628.685 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2019-03-26T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=31834&j=0&l=en title: SP(2019)92 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2018-06-14T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-11-20T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-11-23T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0379&language=EN title: A8-0379/2018 summary: The Committee on International Trade adopted an own initiative report by Bernd Lange (S&D, DE) and Paul Rübig (EPP, AT) on WTO: the way forward. It stated that, since its creation the WTO has played a pivotal role in strengthening multilateralism, promoting an inclusive world economic order and fostering an open, rules-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. However, Members point out that currently, the rules-based multilateral trading system is facing its deepest crisis ever , with both its negotiating function as well as the dispute settlement mechanism being threatened . In this respect, they noted that the results of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017 were disappointing, and clearly showed that the negotiating function of the organisation is paralysed . They also noted that the Appellate Body is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the WTO owing to the binding character of its decisions and its status as an independent and impartial review body. However, the Appellate Body’s membership fell to the minimum number of judges it needs to function, leaving only three judges appointed. The committee noted that this deadlock, caused by the US administration , could lead to the collapse of a system that is essential to managing disputes among all WTO members. It also noted that the concerns expressed by the US regarding the Appellate Body extend beyond procedural changes and entail significant reforms to the rulings of the body’s judges. Members reiterated their full commitment to the enduring value of multilateralism, and a free, fair and rules-based multilateral trading order that supports social, environmental and human rights, contributing to peace and security. They felt that is was now a matter of urgency to proceed to the modernisation of the WTO, not only in the light of the latest developments but also owing to the long-standing lack of progress on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). The Commission and the EU Member States in the WTO were asked to reach out to other WTO members, in particular the EU’s major trading partners such as the US, Japan, China, Canada, Brazil and India, in order to agree on common positions. The committee took note of the European Council’s conclusions and the mandate given by to the Commission on 28-29 June 2018, as well as of the Commission's concept paper on WTO modernisation of 18 September 2018. The committee made recommendations regarding: addressing current gaps in the rulebook in order to level the playing field as regards market-distorting subsidies and state-owned enterprises, as well as keeping intellectual property protection and investment market access up to date; addressing issues of protection and forced source code disclosure and other state- directed activities giving rise to overcapacities, as well as regulatory barriers to services and investment including technology transfers, requirements of joint ventures and local content requirements; creating the necessary regulatory framework to cope with technological developments by covering e-commerce, global value chains, public procurement, updated domestic regulation for services. The committee also felt that it is necessary to: revisit the classification of countries into developed and developing, and re-examine the special and differential treatment (S&DT) mechanism in order to better reflect human development indexes ; ensure that trade plays a part in contributing to development and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and of the Paris Agreement commitments in the fight against climate change; revise the functioning of the negotiating process by introducing more flexibility than has currently been the case under the consensus rule, and support the concept of flexible multilateralism, whereby WTO members interested in pursuing a certain issue where full consensus is not yet possible should be able to conclude plurilateral agreements. However, such agreements must complement and not undermine the multilateral agenda and should be used not as alternative fora to address trade barriers. Members viewed the decision of the US to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium products on 31 May 2018 on grounds of ‘national security’ under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 as unjustified and strongly encouraged the Commission to work with the US to address trade disagreements within the WTO’s rules-based dispute settlement framework. Lastly, Members urged the WTO members to ensure democratic legitimacy and transparency by strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the WTO , and to support a memorandum of understanding establishing a formal working relationship with the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.
  • date: 2018-11-28T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20181128&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2018-11-29T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=31834&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2018-11-29T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2018-0477 title: T8-0477/2018 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 471 votes to 80, with 86 abstentions, a resolution on WTO: the way forward. Members recalled that, since its creation the WTO has played a pivotal role in strengthening multilateralism, promoting an inclusive world economic order and fostering an open, rules-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. However, they pointed out that currently, the rules-based multilateral trading system is facing its deepest crisis ever , with both its negotiating function as well as the dispute settlement mechanism being threatened . In this respect, they noted that the results of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017 were disappointing, and clearly showed that the negotiating function of the organisation is paralysed . Members also noted that the Appellate Body is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the WTO owing to the binding character of its decisions and its status as an independent and impartial review body. However, the Appellate Body’s membership fell to the minimum number of judges it needs to function, leaving only three judges appointed. This deadlock, caused by the US administration , could lead to the collapse of a system that is essential to managing disputes among all WTO members. Reaffirming its commitment to multilateralism, Parliament called for a trade agenda based on fair and rules-based trade for the benefit of all, which contributes to peace, security and the sustainable development agenda by including and enhancing social, environmental and human rights. It stressed that the WTO must also contribute to promoting fair trade and combating unfair practices. In the light of recent developments but also the long lack of progress on the Doha Development Agenda, Members called for the modernisation of the WTO and invited the Commission to reach out to other WTO members, in particular our major trading partners such as the US, Japan, China, Canada, Brazil and India, in order to agree on common positions. Parliament made recommendations regarding: addressing current gaps in the rulebook in order to level the playing field as regards market-distorting subsidies and state-owned enterprises, as well as keeping intellectual property protection and investment market access up to date; addressing issues of protection and forced source code disclosure and other state- directed activities giving rise to overcapacities, as well as regulatory barriers to services and investment including technology transfers, requirements of joint ventures and local content requirements; creating the necessary regulatory framework to cope with technological developments by covering e-commerce, global value chains, public procurement, updated domestic regulation for services; mastering the most pressing global environmental and social challenges , ensuring systemic policy coherence between trade, labour and environmental agendas. Members also considered it necessary to: review the current differentiation between developed and developing countries and review the mechanism for special and differential treatment to better reflect human development indices, as a policy tool for developing countries to link the implementation of multilateral agreements to receiving assistance from richer countries and donor agencies; support the concept of flexible multilateralism , whereby WTO Members interested in pursuing a certain issue where full consensus is not yet possible should be able to advance and conclude plurilateral agreements; introduce special rules for SMEs in plurilateral and multilateral agreements; define a systemic gender perspective in all areas of WTO rule-making in the form of gender impact assessments. Parliament viewed the decision of the US to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium products on 31 May 2018 on grounds of ‘national security’ under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 as unjustified and strongly encouraged the Commission to work with the US to address trade disagreements within the WTO’s rules-based dispute settlement framework. Lastly, Members urged the WTO members to ensure democratic legitimacy and transparency by strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the WTO, and to support a memorandum of understanding establishing a formal working relationship with the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.
  • date: 2018-11-29T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/trade_en title: Trade commissioner: MALMSTRÖM Cecilia
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
INTA/8/13317
New
  • INTA/8/13317
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 54
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 52
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Procedure completed
procedure/subject
Old
  • 6.20.01 Agreements and relations in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
New
6.20.01
Agreements and relations in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
activities/0
date
2018-06-14T00:00:00
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EP
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  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Development committee: DEVE
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2018-05-16T00:00:00 2018-05-16T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: EPP name: RÜBIG Paul group: S&D name: LANGE Bernd
activities/2/date
Old
2018-06-14T00:00:00
New
2018-12-10T00:00:00
activities/2/type
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Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
committees/0/date
2018-07-05T00:00:00
committees/0/rapporteur
  • group: GUE/NGL name: SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY Lola
committees/1/shadows
  • group: ECR name: MCCLARKIN Emma
  • group: ALDE name: KATAINEN Elsi
  • group: GUE/NGL name: SCHOLZ Helmut
  • group: Verts/ALE name: BUCHNER Klaus
  • group: EFD name: BEGHIN Tiziana
procedure/legal_basis/0
Old
Rules of Procedure EP 052
New
Rules of Procedure EP 52
other/0
body
EC
dg
commissioner
MALMSTRÖM Cecilia
activities
  • date: 2018-06-14T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Development committee: DEVE body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2018-05-16T00:00:00 2018-05-16T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: EPP name: RÜBIG Paul group: S&D name: LANGE Bernd
  • date: 2018-11-20T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Development committee: DEVE
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2018-05-16T00:00:00 2018-05-16T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: EPP name: RÜBIG Paul group: S&D name: LANGE Bernd
links
other
    procedure
    dossier_of_the_committee
    INTA/8/13317
    reference
    2018/2084(INI)
    title
    WTO: the way forward
    legal_basis
    Rules of Procedure EP 052
    stage_reached
    Awaiting committee decision
    subtype
    Initiative
    type
    INI - Own-initiative procedure
    subject
    6.20.01 Agreements and relations in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO)