    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [December 17, 1999]
    [Page 2314]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2314]]

    United States-European Union Summit Statement on the World Trade
    Organization
    December 17, 1999

        The United States and the European Union consider the multilateral
    trading system one of the world's principal bulwarks of peace,
    sustainable development, and economic growth; and a primary engine for
    rising living standards and broad-based prosperity in the future. As we
    approach the new century, we must ensure that the trading system retains
    its dynamism and ability to respond to changing needs of an increasingly
    diverse membership.
        Accordingly, both sides note their disappointment at the failure to
    reach agreement on a new Round of trade negotiations at Seattle, but
    they agree it is now important to find a way forward. In this context,
    the EU and the US both pledge continued readiness to work with Director
    General Mike Moore and our partners to launch an
    inclusive new Round as soon as possible. A new Round has to be
    definitively different from its predecessors. It should encompass the
    built in agenda of agriculture and services, further and effective
    market access liberalization, support our efforts to harness
    globalization by strengthening and extending WTO rules, and address the
    concerns of both developing countries and civil society.
        With the Director General and all other
    members of the WTO, we need to take full account of the lessons of
    Seattle. In particular, work should be directed towards a set of
    measures that will: provide better opportunities for wider participation
    by all members (including developing countries) in the decisionmaking
    processes of the WTO; offer greater transparency (both within the
    organization and vis a vis the outside world); and improve public
    access, including through broader access to WTO documents and enhanced
    consultation procedures with civil society. This work should also
    consider measures to improve the efficiency of the WTO, and to boost
    overall public support for the organization. We should also seek
    agreement by all members on the separate review of WTO dispute
    settlement procedures, including measures to enhance transparency.
        The US and EU are committed to maximizing the benefits developing
    countries gain from being in the WTO. We agreed to take forward a
    preferential market access initiative for least developed WTO members,
    initially with our Quad partners. We will work with other WTO Members to
    establish as soon as possible a new, revitalized program for capacity
    building and technical assistance undertaken by the WTO, beginning with
    the Integrated Framework established in 1996, and in cooperation with
    other international institutions. We also agreed to consider what we
    would do to address the concerns of a number of developing countries
    with implementation of existing multilateral trade agreements.
        On issues of interest to our civil societies, we agreed that changes
    to global economy have brought new challenges to the trading system.
    Nowhere is that evident than the debate that is now joined regarding the
    relationship between trade and labor. The US and EU are committed to
    working with our partners to engage the WTO and ILO in a constructive
    dialogue, including consideration of the relationship between core labor
    standards, further liberalization, trade policy and social development,
    in order to foster understanding and consensus. And on trade and
    environment, we will work together to ensure that trade rules support
    and do not undermine the ability of governments to establish and achieve
    high levels of environmental protection.
        The cooperative relationship between the US and the EU has been
    crucial to the development of the multilateral trading system over the
    past 50 years. We recognize our shared responsibilities to continue this
    work, but also the need to involve all our WTO partners more directly.
    This will pave the way for continued prosperity, sustainable
    development, and long-term growth for the 21st century.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.