Speech

WTO General Council: importance of market-orientated conditions to the world trading system

UK Ambassador to the WTO in Geneva, Julian Braithwaite, delivers joint statement with Brazil, Japan and United States under Item 7: importance of market-oriented conditions to the world trading system.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Department for International Trade and Julian Braithwaite
• Published: 13 October 2020

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Delivered on: 13 October 2020 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank You, Chair.

The WTO Agreements, as agreed by the WTO Membership, recognise the importance of market-oriented conditions to the world trading system. We seek to ensure fair competition, by guaranteeing that all WTO Members uphold their obligations under the Agreements.

The world trading system can only succeed if we tackle unfair practices when these occur. We therefore thank Brazil, Japan and the United States for enabling this discussion. It is important that we make progress on issues such as industrial subsidies, state owned enterprises, and forced technology transfer. We also need to ensure that we reduce protectionist measures.

The United Kingdom believes that unfair practices not only violate the agreements but have real life impacts on the life of our citizens. Innovation is stifled, communities are damaged, and uncompetitive companies are bolstered.

Thank you, Chair.

Published 13 October 2020