Statement on World Wine Trade Group Relations with Europe

The industry group of the WWTG considered carefully the November 29 speech given by the Head of Cabinet of the EC Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler.

While recognizing that the audience to whom he was speaking and the long history of old and new world relations on wine, we nevertheless see positive messages in this address.

These messages suggest perhaps an opening for rapprochement and a more proactive engagement with EU officials and the European wine industry by the WWTG.

We would, therefore, encourage WWTG government representatives to consider engaging the EU in follow up to this apparent European overture.

For our part, as industry members of the WWTG, we have agreed that we should meet with European wine sector representatives soon and we have established a working group to consider our approach.

World Wine Trade Group Industry Statement on Regulation EC 753/02

The industry section of the World Wine Trade Group recognises and commends the decisive action collectively taken by its member governments and like-minded countries in persuading the European Commission to defer the introduction of Regulation EC 753/2002 until 1 August 2003.

The industry would remind the government sector that only a short time period remains before the Regulation is due to take effect. Industry believes that the Regulation is not only inconsistent with World Trade Organisation rules, but will also present industry with an unnecessary, cumbersome, expensive impediment to trade, thus posing a serious commercial threat to all of our wine industries.

Consequently, the industry sector reiterates its statement of opposition to Regulation EC 753/2002, given to the government sector in Cape Town (see attached statement) and implores our governments to continue to cooperate in opposing the implementation of the regulation. Further, the Industry Section of the World Wine Trade Group urges the government sector to combine with like-minded parties in all available fora, and to take all possible action to prevent the implementation of the Regulation.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Pathfinder Initiative

At the last meeting of the World Wine Trade Group held in Cape Town, the industry section requested that the APEC members of the World Wine Trade Group jointly present a 'pathfinder' initiative that embodies the concepts in the Mutual Acceptance Agreement on Oenological Practices (MAA OP) to the APEC Ministerial and Leaders' Meetings.

It is critical that the World Wine Trade Group take a leading role in the development of sound wine policies and regulations in these markets.

First, the MAA OP is not a set of winemaking standards but the winemaking regulations approved by each member country could be incorporated into a standard or similar arrangement, which could then be presented to the other APEC members for consideration as the pathfinder initiative. Such a production standard would enhance the international acceptability of wine produced in the Asia-Pacific region, while the adoption of the principles of the MAA OP would advance the free and open trade in wine, both within the region and internationally. This could provide a significant benefit to the emerging wine industries within these countries and provide an essential precursor for countries to sign onto the MAA OP.

Second, by adopting the principles in the MAA OP, particularly those in Articles 5 and 6, a trading standard for wine would eventually be established and negotiations on labeling within APEC could be opened up. It would seem to have a mutual benefit for both producer and consumer countries to sign up to the MAA OP.

Third, we could use the initiative to establish mutual recognition arrangements between certification and testing bodies for wine to reduce non-tariff barriers and facilitate trade.

The industry section of the World Wine Trade Group has formed a working group to establish a basis for mutual cooperation for the governments to present to APEC member governments. The working group will present its initial findings to the industry sector of the World Wine Trade Group at the first meeting in 2003.

World Wine Trade Group Industry Statement on Participation in the WWTG

Noting the discussion in the WWTG on modes of participation,

Noting the sentiments expressed by Corrado Pirzio-Biroli in his speech of 29 November 2002

Noting the industry section statement reflecting the urgency to reject EC regulation 753/2002

Noting the important issues under consideration by the World Trade Organisation in Cancun in September 2003

Noting the commonality of many of the interests between the industry members of the WWTG and the European industry

Remembering the underlying desire of the WWTG to maximise participation by all consumer and producer economies and their wine industries

Noting the speech of 29 November acknowledges the success of the WWTG to date and its important role within the world wine industry

The industry section of the WWTG;

Recommends the industry section conduct an informal meeting at the earliest possible opportunity with European colleagues to explore areas for mutual cooperation

Supports the initiatives by the government to resolve modes of participation in the WWTG

Urges the government sector to meet with European colleagues in conjunction with the next meeting of the WWTG.

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