Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 26 November 2019 - Strasbourg

Measures to address the impact on European agriculture of the WTO ruling on the Airbus dispute (debate)

  Christophe Hansen (PPE). – Madam President, only last Thursday, the WTO reported a 37% increase in the last half of this year in import—restrictive measures implemented by G20 economies, totalling more than USD 416 billion in trade coverage. At the beginning of October, the WTO downgraded its forecast for world trade growth from 2.6% last February to 1.2%. History has shown that the road to devastating conflicts is paved with trade wars. It is clear that it is high time for a de-escalation of trade tensions. It is high time to choose talks over tariffs – even if they are legal for once – and engage earnestly in a reform of the WTO to address existing imbalances.

Meanwhile, European farmers as well as consumers – the weakest elements on both sides of the Atlantic – suffer from a conflict in which they have no fault, and where tariffs are deliberately weaponised by the Trump administration to drive a wedge between European unity. I call upon the Member States to stay united in the face of this challenge. Providing a more predictable international trade environment for our farmers is the surest way to defend the livelihoods of our farmers in the long term.