Dec 12, 1989

"TOO EARLY TO RISK A VIEW ON OUTCOME" OF GATT TALKS.

GENEVA, DECEMBER 8 (BY CHAKRAVARTHI RAGHAVAN)— The three years of discussions in the Uruguay Round trade talks so far have been just "a prologue" for the serious negotiations to start in January, and it is too risky to say it would succeed or fail, Uruguay’s GATT delegate, Amb. Julio Lacarte-Moro told newsmen Friday.

There are various proposals and positions on the table and lines are set out, but no one has brought his cards out and "I would not risk a view on what is going to happen in the round", Lacarte said.

"There is not enough light at this point for anyone to say this is how it will go".

In the "crucial" areas of intellectual property rights and services, there are proposals on the table but no one has agreed to anything.

There has been nothing worthwhile so far on market access issues – tropical products, natural resource based products, textiles, tariffs and non-tariffs, and agriculture.

In the second broad area relating to the rules of the game, it is difficult to say whether the talks would succeed or not. There were some positions on selective safeguards, for example, with which Uruguay would not be able to agree.

As for the new areas, it is the third world countries who have to make concessions there, and no concessions would be made unless they would get concrete benefits in market access and the agriculture negotiations conclude successfully, Lacarte said.

The veteran Uruguayan delegate noted that the rollback commitments of Punta del Este had not been implemented and there was "complete paralysis" on this in the surveillance body. It was very difficult to achieve anything unless the Punta del Este commitments are carried out.

Lacarte also referred to the provisions in the Punta del Este declaration for a meeting of the Group of Negotiations on Goods, when the results in various negotiating groups are settled, to make an assessment of the benefits and outcome for third world countries.

Uruguay was one of those who had insisted on such a provision, and this assessment is not a mere formality to be done at the end.

The negotiations would have to be concluded well in time to enable third world countries and the GNG to decide whether there has been a balanced outcome and the assurances and commitments about their trade have been carried out, Lacarte added.