On 13 and 14 February 2022, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, took part in the Informal Meeting of the Trade Ministers of the European Union (Foreign Affairs Council – Trade) held in Marseille, France. The meeting addressed the issues faced by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), priorities for economic cooperation between the EU and African countries, and the EU-US trade relationship.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica expressed support for efforts invested by the WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, towards a result-oriented WTO Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12). The Parliamentary Secretary pointed out that setting a concrete date for MC12 would help advance negotiations and deliver on matters of principal importance for global economy.
The EU must work closely together with like-minded partners and facilitate engagement with the developing countries in a constructive manner, the Parliamentary Secretary underlined, adding that MC12 needs to achieve a balanced result including the priorities of both developing and developed countries.
The meeting also featured discussions on future priorities of the EU-Africa economic cooperation. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica expressed satisfaction with the process launched by the European Commission aimed at deeper economic partnership between the EU and Africa. The Parliamentary Secretary highlighted the increasing interest of Latvian businesses in building trade relations with African countries, especially in the areas such as ICT, transport, logistics, and the preparedness of scientists for involvement in long-term research projects.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica voiced support for the European Commission’s initiatives promoting improvement of the investment climate and the overall business environment in the African countries. Economic partnership agreements constitute an effective instrument for building a sustainable and open business environment in Africa, which will ensure broader cooperation and trade opportunities for EU and African businesses, the Parliamentary Secretary emphasised.
At the meeting, special attention was devoted to trade relations between the EU and the US. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica noted the progress achieved in the strengthening of transatlantic relations. Joint work on the development of standards, sharing best practice, and coordination of policies is a vital prerequisite for establishing the EU-US leadership in those matters, the Parliamentary Secretary pointed out in a discussion on preparations for the next meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council.
Further during the event, Lithuania informed the participants about the state of play in the trade relations between Lithuania and China. The European Commission outlined the measures taken to resolve the situation – launching a dispute settlement case at the WTO.
At the conclusion of the meeting, current issues related to the EU’s trade instruments were discussed, including making headway with an international procurement instrument and an anti-coercion instruments, as well as negotiations on free trade agreements. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica underlined the importance of the EU having effective instruments at its disposal for the protection of its economic interests.
Background information
The EU Foreign Affairs Council in the configuration of ministers for trade considers matters concerning the EU’s trade relations with third countries, including trade in goods and services, commercial aspects of intellectual property rights, international public procurement, and regulations on foreign direct investment. The meetings are chaired by the minister responsible for trade of the country holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.