Robert Sturdy calls for reform of EU trade policy
Robert has sent this letter to the Financial Times regarding Peter Mandelson and EU duties on Asian shoes.
Sir — Peter Mandelson is right to oppose the continuation of EU duties on Asian shoes, but it’s a bit rich coming from the man who succumbed to southern European manufacturers and introduced them in the first place (Mandelson steps back from Asian shoes duties, 9th November).
Commissioner Mandelson had the opportunity to fundamentally reform the EU’s Trade Defence Instruments to make them more transparent and less susceptible to the kind of unedifying political pressure we witness all too often. He backed away from that reform.
Whoever is the next holder of the post of Trade Commissioner, he or she must make it a priority to reform the way the EU decides trade policy. It should protect the interests of retailers, consumers and the majority of European manufacturers who have created more and better jobs in the EU by outsourcing, rather than the narrow interests of southern European manufacturers who have failed to take advantage of globalisation.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Sturdy MEP,
International Trade spokesman for the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) in the European Parliament
