Kalba debatuose dėl Bendrosios prekybos politikos įgyvendinimo metinės ataskaitos

Laima Andrikienė 
Kalba debatuose dėl Bendrosios prekybos politikos įgyvendinimo metinės ataskaitos
EP plenarinė sesija 
Strasbūras 
2018 05 29

Mr President, 

The EU is a front runner in the world for free and fair trade, and trade liberalisation. Trade within the global value chains opens markets, creates growth and jobs and strengthens our relations with third countries, illustrated by various of our Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) worldwide.

However, we want to have a values and principles based trade policy. That is why we need more than TDIs, in order to prevent unfair trading practices in our markets and an increase in transparency within the processes of the global value chain instruments. For example, the bilateral investment agreements (BIAs) are very effective instruments to protect our investors against unfair practices. That is why I am calling on the Commission to complete the preparatory work and to start negotiations with Taiwan on an EU Taiwan BIA, including an impact assessment. Taiwan could serve as an ideal springboard to the Chinese market as we, of course, want a level playing field with China, which still imposes unjustified non tariff measures and technical barriers. 

Furthermore, we should not overlook our economic relationships and the positive advances that have been made with FTAs conducted by the EU so far, and speed up progress in the ongoing negotiations, especially our economic cooperation under the European Neighbourhood policy. Our DCFTAs under implementation help to create a stable, democratic and prosperous EU neighbourhood. 

Finally, we should actively reach out to our partners, pursuing an ambitious trade agenda in a global context, especially keeping up the framework of the WTO for free and fair trade on a global basis and in compliance with all WTO obligations. 

Finally, I would like to thank our rapporteur, Madame Saïfi, for her work.