Brazil slams EU-US 'green' WTO proposals as protectionist

Yahoo News 4 Dec 07;

"The exclusion of biofuels is particularly striking," Azevedo said. Brazil is a key exporter of this alternative fuel source.

Brazil on Tuesday sharply criticised joint proposals by the United States and European Union for fewer tariffs and other trade barriers on "green" goods and services as protectionist and only serving their own interests.

"Brazil is deeply disappointed. We find the proposal modest, biased and protectionist," Brazil's trade negotiatior at the WTO Roberto Azevedo told journalists.

The EU and United States on Friday proposed that all 151 WTO members cut tariffs on at least 43 types of environmentally-friendly goods and services in order to boost their use worldwide.

Brazil said the measure was "essentially protectionist," and took issue with the definition of "green" products, not least the absence of biofuels.

"The exclusion of biofuels is particularly striking," Azevedo said. Brazil is a key exporter of this alternative fuel source.

"The approach of the proponents ignores high tariffs and other barriers they impose on goods they do not produce," he added.

"Anything they don't produce is not on the list," he claimed, concluding: "We don't think this is a basis for negotiation on environmental products."

WTO member states have yet to arrive at a common definition of what should be classified as environmental products, within the wider framework of the Doha Development Round, which remains stalled over differences between developed and developing countries.

RELATED ARTICLE

US, EU aim to free up trade in 'green' goods
Yahoo News 30 Nov 07;