Page 7 - CSA Celebrity Speakers | CSA Speaker Bulletin January 2016

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EUROPE

pawn? Do we want to take the lead or never been so high. Such globalisation the best tool to address the root
leave that role to others? is a fact. And the truth is it does causes of many challenges we face,
not come with a reverse gear. Yet, such as terrorism, climate change
If we are defensive, Europe can and must pull the brakes and social dumping. Trade is about
Europe will remain weak when necessary to regularise the setting a constant dialogue with
international trade order, reap the foreign countries and people. Trade is
There is urgency. By 2050, Europe opportunities and mitigate the risks. about unleashing potential for rapid
will represent only 7% of the world’s development in the least developed
population, down from 20% in 1950. If we turn offensive, countries. For instance, EU is the
By 2050, Europe will represent only Europe will be stronger major donor in the world. For years, it
15% of the world’s GDP, down from has granted preferential tariffs to 88
40% in 1900. By 2050, Europe might EU’s trade policy has reached new partners under the schemes such
neither be the largest economy nor records. If on-going negotiations were as GSP, GSP+ and EBA, in exchange
the largest trading block in the world. to come to conclusion, 2/3 for the respect of good governance
By 2050, it might simply be too late of our trade volumes and half of the and compliance with international
to shape state of the art international world map would be covered by an standards. The EU has also shown
rules. Either we take decisions now agreement – while todayless than 1/4 its readiness to use trade sanctions
while we are in command or we wait is covered. Yet, the EU faces many against non-compliant countries.
for 2050 until we are relegated to the hurdles in these negotiations. While Trade is equally about helping EU
passenger seat. the US have recently concluded TPP consumers fight against frauds, EU
with 12 countries in the Asia Pacific companies against unfair competition,
If we do nothing, we accept a region and many more knocking at the EU workers against social dumping,
mercantilist, lawless and ruthless door, the EU makes no progress on its EU citizens against insecurity.
world, in which there are neither negotiations with ASEAN, Mercosur International trade creates a safety-
labour nor environmental protections, and the US. net both at home and abroad.
neither commitment to free and
open Internet nor common counter- We need to act now. Before it is too In today’s interconnected world,
terrorism efforts. If we do nothing, late, leaders must have the courage physical barriers are being
we accept that foreign companies to break free from the small-small increasingly dismantled, distances are
can come to Europe to compete with mindset, in which they are trapped: shrinking and value chains are
EU companies, whereas ours face small integration yields small globalising. While the world has
enormous obstacles to provide their outcomes. If we don’t speak with changed, rules need to catch up!
goods and services abroad. If we do one voice both in Europe and with While the world knows no borders,
nothing, we accept that those same our partners, the next-generation rules must be borderless! Looking
foreign companies can play in our standards will be set by others, ahead, Europe needs to
backyard without having to comply whether we like it or not. Only deliver. It is in our interest that the
with the same rules, such as our data together can countries get bigger than global system is consistent with
protection standards and carbon they really are. Only together can European values and European
emission permits. If we do nothing, countries replace the global battlefield interests.
Europe remains subject to Chinese by a level playing field. Only together
dumping, prone to Daesch terror can countries make sure competition There can be no international
and dependent on Russian gas. If by the rules prevails over competition agreements without appropriate
we do nothing, we put ourselves at for the rules. Only global solutions can protections. But most importantly,
disadvantage visà-vis the rest of the address widespread challenges. no protection without appropriate
world. agreements. Trade is not and has
To this end, trade policy is the key never been about trade. While
At global level, the movement of instrument in EU external action. the world is more unsecure than
goods, services, persons and data has Trade is not an end in itself but ever, Europe cannot be left out of its
governance. n

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