UNCTAD XI: NETHERLANDS POSITION

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000604

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EB/MST/NISSEN
STATE PASS USTR/BOHLING
USMISSION GENEVA FOR KEHOE

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: ETRD NL UNCTAD WTRO EUN
SUBJECT: UNCTAD XI: NETHERLANDS POSITION

REF: STATE 51412


1. (SBU) The Ministry of Economic Affairs responded to
demarche requested ref a by noting that the Netherlands
attaches considerable importance to UNCTAD XI and hopes that
It will exert a positive influence on the Doha Round
negotiations. Although the Dutch do not want UNCTAD XI to
interfere in matters that are under direct negotiation in
the Doha Round, they believe that the conference must
address major trade issues affecting developing countries.
In this regard, they believe UNCTAD can play a positive role
in
a) developing further the "Singapore Issues" (mainly
investment and competition);
b) promoting the importance of South-South trade;
c) preparing countries for the effects of the erosion of
trade preferences as the WTO establishes a true level
playing field.


2. (SBU) MEA indicated that in EU 133 Committee meetings,
the European Commission (which has competence in the
European Union over trade issues) has expressed the view
that UNCTAD XI should not be used to disrupt the Doha
process or to alter the WTO negotiating agenda. UNCTAD XI
should be instead used to set UNCTAD's work program for the
coming years, taking as a starting point that UNCTAD should
do what it is best placed to do -- analysis, assistance,
and advocacy. That implies promoting a prominent role for
trade in international and regional policy in and between
developing countries, promoting integration between
developing countries, and helping developing countries in
becoming less dependent on trade in commodities.


3. (SBU) For the first half of the UNCTAD conference (June
13-15),the Dutch delegation will be led by Development
Cooperation Minister van Ardennes. Van Ardennes was a
member of the Dutch delegation at Cancun and frequently
interprets her role as ensuring that developing country
interests are taken into account. On March 16, Van Ardennes
will depart and be Economic Affairs Minister Brinkhorst will
take over as Dutch Head of Delegation. Brinkhorst was a WTO
Vice Chairman and Head of the Dutch delegation in Cancun.
Brinkhorst is a staunch advocate of open trade and
investment markets and of the multilateral trading system.
Other Economics Ministry members on the Dutch delegation
will be Wim van der Leeuw and Ashraf Khan. Van der Leeuw
and Khan are long-standing Embassy contacts who can be
expected to be sympathetic to U.S. positions. They will
likely attend upcoming Geneva prepcoms as ell.

Sobel