Asean to adopt common negotiating positions.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Michelle V. Remo

MEMBERS of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are set to adopt a common stand against perceived unfair trade practices in the multilateral trade system allegedly perpetuated by developed countries.

Asean economic ministers will meet tomorrow until Thursday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to harmonize the member-countries' negotiating positions in the 5th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization next week in Cancun, Mexico.

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the meeting among Asean economic ministers was aimed at strengthening the positions and raising common concerns of developing countries in the region on various aspects of trade, such as agriculture, investments and non-agricultural market access.

The Asean will adopt a common stand particularly against the provision of agricultural subsidies by governments of developed countries, such as the United States and the European Union. Developing countries consider this concern as one form of unfair competition since their governments cannot afford the same amount of subsidies being granted by ...