BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/12/2006

EU Commissioner Urges Suspension Of Trade Benefits For Belarus

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson on December 5 called on EU member states to support the European Commission's proposal that the EU should temporarily suspend Belarus's benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in response to violations of trade union laws, Belapan reported. "In my view, this decision is a test case of our collective commitment to the promotion of workers' rights as an integral part of our trade policy," Mandelson said. Earlier the same day, the European Commission's expert committee voted to approve the move, clearing the way for EU foreign ministers to announce the suspension of GSP benefits later this month and for the European Commission to impose tariffs on imports of Belarusian timber, textiles, and minerals next summer. The withdrawal of GSP benefits could result for Belarus in a loss of some $300 million euros ($400 million) annually in trade with the EU. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/12/3-cee/cee-061206.asp