Minister Väyrynen to attend WTO meetings in Brussels and Geneva

Press release 255/2008
17 July, 2008

The General Affairs and External Relations Council of the EU will hold an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Friday, 18 July. The only topic on the agenda is the current situation of the Doha round of trade negotiations under way in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and preparations for the ministerial meeting that will begin in Geneva on 21 July. The Finnish representative at the Council meeting will be Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen. At the same time, he will also meet with Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson.

On the basis of a review prepared by the Commission, the Council is to take a stand on the overall situation of the Doha round of negotiations and especially on new proposals concerning agriculture and industrial products. The Council will make preparations for the WTO ministerial meeting that will begin in Geneva on 21 July. The goal of the ministerial meeting is to reach consensus on the modalities for the market entry of agricultural and industrial products under the Doha round, i.e. how to lower duties and subsidies in these areas, and to agree on continued activities in the other areas of the Doha round. Minister Väyrynen will also attend the ministerial meeting in Geneva.

Finland’s point of departure and objective in the Doha round of trade negotiations is to reach a balanced outcome encompassing all areas under negotiation.

Additional information: Ilkka-Pekka Similä, Head of Unit, tel. +358 9 1605 5530, and Ilkka Saarinen, Head of Unit, tel. +358 9 1605 6327, Department for External Economic Relations