Rosenthal, Knapen and Verhagen meet World Trade Organisation chief

News article | February 3, 2012

Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal, economic affairs minister Maxime Verhagen and international cooperation minister Ben Knapen held talks last Friday with Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO plays a vital role in opening up and regulating world trade and its rules can help to prevent the unwelcome return of protectionism. This is vitally important for Dutch business interests. Mr Rosenthal emphasised that trade is also essential to global freedom and stability. ‘Economic growth, stability and the rule of law go hand in hand, and trade is a major catalyst.’

Mr Verhagen also supports the WTO’s efforts to combat protectionism. ‘For the Netherlands – a country that earns much of its money from exports – open borders are tremendously important’, he said. Mr Verhagen urged Mr Lamy to seek ways of opening up markets, in view of the lack of progress made in the WTO negotiations. He also mentioned the need to discuss corporate social responsibility and fair trade issues such as better working conditions and the eradication of child labour.

Mr Lamy and Mr Knapen discussed how trade can contribute to development. Besides capacity building, market access is needed for products and services from developing countries – ‘Aid for Trade, said Mr Knapen, ‘so I’ve decided today to continue support for the Netherlands Trainee Programme for policymakers in developing countries.’ The WTO is a major driver of Aid for Trade.