b'4. The UKs seat at the WTO The World Trade Organisation (WTO)Meanwhile, the tiny country of Liechtenstein began in 1995. It evolved from the Generaland the former British colony of Hong Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)Kong both have full seats at the WTO, established at the end of World War II; thewhich means they have full negotiating UK was a founder member.competence. At such time as the UK leaves the EU fully on 31 stDecember 2020, the In 1973, a condition of the UKs accessionUKs seat at the WTO can be simply was that we surrendered our GATTreactivated. negotiating rights to the EEC. The European Commissioner for Trade became ourIn the EU, there is a forum called the Article negotiator. After a brief transition period,133 Committee to discuss EU trade policy. by 1975 (when the stay-inreferendum wasNonetheless, the real power lies with the EU completed) the UK surrendered theseTrade Commissioner, who has the right to powers. The UK can no longer sign bilateralignore the Article 133 Committees advice.19(country- to-country) trade agreements. The EU Treaties are crystal clear: only theEU trade policy makes little sense in a world European Commission may conduct tradewhere trade, not aid, is the best, and only negotiations for member states. sustainable, path out of poverty for countries. For many former European colonies in This is a drastic transfer of sovereignty; butAfrica and Asia, the EU is still their primary it was cushioned. Officially, all EU memberexport market. However, importsmost states, including the UK, became membersheavily taxed by the EU tend to be from of the WTO (when it evolved from the GATTpoor countries. For countries with a GDP per in 1995). All EU members retain seats atperson of under 5,000 per year, the average the WTO but only, and this is crucial, astariff is 6%, compared with just 1.6% for observers. (The World Bank, for example,countries with a GDP per person of over also has observer status.) It is only the15,000 per year.European Commission that can speak on and negotiate trade agreements on behalf ofFor social justice alone, a fundamental EU member states. 18 change in EU protectionisttrade policy with the wider world would be highly desirable. The effect is that the UKs seat on the WTOCurrent EU trade policies are inimical and is purely symbolic, devoid of real power oragainst the interests of a large part of the meaning; perhaps rather like having adeveloping world. Perhaps The Independent hereditary title in the 21st century.Group will inform themselves of these basic facts.166'