Ræða á vettvangi WTO í umræðu um endurskoðun á viðskiptastefnu ESB

Harald Aspelund, fastafulltrúi Íslands hjá Alþjóðaviðskiptastofnuninni (WTO) í Genf, flutti ræðu í umræðu um endurskoðun á viðskiptastefnu ESB. Lagði Harald mikla áherslu á að ESB bætti markaðsaðgang fyrir íslenskar sjávarafurðir og færði ítarleg rök fyrir því.

14th TPR of the European Union
Statement delivered by Iceland

Thank you chair,

Iceland would like to welcome the distinguished delegation of the European Union to their fourteenth trade policy review (lead by Sabine Weyand, Director-General,) and I look forward to the discussions today. We would like to thank both the WTO Secretariat, as well as the European Commission, for the reports prepared for the review, and the discussant, Ambassador (Alexandre Guido Lopes Parola,) of Brazil, for his clear and concise overview for our discussion today.

It is of particular interest for Iceland to take part in the trade policy review of the European Union. Iceland and the EU enjoy very deep trade relations under the Agreement on the European Economic Area, the EEA Agreement, and we have a long history of strong economic cooperation. Under the EEA Agreement, Iceland is part of the internal market of the European Union and participates in the EU’s internal harmonization of rules.

Tariffs on industrial products in trade between Iceland and the EU have been abolished. Our trade arrangement for agricultural products is quite liberal and has recently been updated.

That leaves us with fish. While trade in most fish products has been liberalized, a large number of Icelandic fish products are still subject to tariffs arrangements, such as tariff reductions or tariff quotas, upon imports to the EU. These tariff arrangements continue to distort trade in fisheries products imported from Iceland, while the EU enjoys tariff free imports for all its fisheries products imported into to Iceland.

Iceland has therefore been requesting the EU to eliminate all remaining tariffs on Icelandic fisheries products into the EU. Our key rationale is the following:

Firstly, non-discrimination: The EU policy has shifted considerably in recent years towards full market access for fisheries products from third countries into the EU. Under the EU´s recent FTAs, tariffs have been eliminated of all fish products from Canada, Japan, Vietnam and Mercosur. But at the same time the EU still refuses to offer it to one of its closest partner, Iceland. To us exports in fisheries products are proportionally much more important than for any other partners.

Secondly, economic interests of the EU: To the EU, Iceland is one of the most important trading partner, when it comes to fish imports. The EU is a major importer of seafood – with self-sufficiency rate of only 41% - with future consumption of fish products expected to increase (less meat, more fish).

Thirdly, the streamlining of current trade arrangements: Current trade arrangements between Iceland and the EU for fish products are not user friendly. They are governed by too many instruments and conditions such as tariff reductions and tariff quotas. These arrangements result in additional administrative costs for imports of such products.

Fourthly, environmental benefits: Iceland´s fisheries are sustainable and therefore environmentally friendly. There are no fisheries subsidies in Iceland. Furthermore, as Iceland in close geographical proximity with the EU market, imports of fish products from Iceland have lower carbon footprint than from countries that are further away from the EU market. In this context it is also urgent that the WTO conclude a meaningful agreement on fisheries subsidies in line with the mandate fixed under UN Sustainable Development Goal and we expect a substantial contribution from members who subsidies their fisheries sector including the EU. 

And finally, Iceland is among the EU’s closest partners. The EEA Agreement is the deepest and most comprehensive agreement the EU has concluded with other countries. It is therefore not fair that Iceland is discriminated against other free trade partners of the EU when it comes to Iceland’s most important goods sector.

Chair,

In closing I would like to turn to a subject that is particularly close to my heart. The European Union played an important role in the adoption and implementation of the Buenos Aires Declaration of Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment adopted at the MC11. We welcome the focus the EU places on gender equality and the economic empowerment of women. We also applaud the EU for integrating specific provisions on trade and gender equality in recent trade negotiations. 

As mentioned in the report of the Secretariat gender issues have begun to figure more prominently in EU trade policy, including analysis on how to improve the understanding of the impact of international trade agreements on gender equality. Iceland looks forward to further cooperation on this matter with the EU.

Finally, allow me to complement the whole EU team for the enormous work they have put into their TPR and my delegation wishes the EU all the success.