An attempt was made to revive the Doha round of the World Trade Organisation negotiations in 2007 that was suspended in July 2006, and the work continues.  We support the conclusion of Doha negotiations for better market access and improved rules.

Nevertheless, because of the increase in bilateral and regional free trade negotiations, also the EU took action to secure competitive positions for its businesses in growth markets. In October 2006, the European Commission published its Global Europe communication, which outlines the EU trade policy for the near future and proposes that negotiations on wide-ranging free trade agreements be initiated with India, South Korea and the ASEAN countries.

Regional and bilateral agreements do not replace the WTO system and negotiation process, but rather complement it.

The forest industry is in favour of the launched free trade negotiations between the EU and South Korea, India and the ASEAN countries; this would open up markets to products and investment as well as influence the regulatory environment in those countries. The intention in these new free trade talks is to consider also deeper issues which go beyond the scope of WTO negotiations.

The forest industry also considers it important that negotiations with the Mercosur countries and Ukraine are concluded and that free trade negotiations are launched with Russia once it has joined the WTO. Membership in the WTO will bring Russia into the sphere of the ground rules of international trade, reduce tariffs and dismantle other barriers to trade as well as make the business environment in Russia more predictable.