German chemical industry urges WTO to end all chemical tariffs

14 September 2010 15:41  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS)--Germany’s chemical industry wants the World Trade Organization (WTO) to work out a sector agreement for the chemical industry to reduce and eliminate tariffs on all traded chemical products, an industry group said on Tuesday.

A sector deal in the chemical industry could be the key to a breakthrough in world trade after the Doha trade round had stalled for over two years, said Frankfurt-based chemical industry trade group VCI.

The move would benefit not just Germany’s strong chemical exporters but also the many net importers of chemicals, said VCI general manager Utz Tillman.

Fast-developing countries, in particular, needed affordable chemical and other intermediate products to build out their industries, he added.

VCI made its call ahead of  the WTO’s three-day 2010 Public Forum, due to start on Wednesday in Geneva. The forum is expected to address the role and relevance of Doha.

Last week, Germany's chamber of commerce (DIHK) said in a study that new “protectionist measures and obstacles” in the wake of last year’s recession had made the lives of Germany’s export-oriented producers much harder.

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