Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Joško Klisović attended an informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in a trade format, held 25 March in Riga. The main topics included the WTO and the Doha Development Agenda, potential and actual benefits of the EU trade and investment policy, trade talks with Japan and Vietnam, as well as TTIP negotiations with the US.
A working dinner was held ahead of the meeting with WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo to discuss steps to be taken post-Bali work programme, the rest of the Doha Development Agenda and goals of the 10th WTO ministerial conference, to be held in Nairobi December 2015.
Klisović highlighted the importance of trade for the European Union’s internal growth, adding that Croatia was committed to free trade and believed it was important for the new EU trade policy to underscore the importance of including SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in the international trade, as well as trade in digital services. He also stressed the importance of protecting workers’ rights in trade negotiations and continuing the work on the EU common investment policy. Klisović also noted the matter of the US visa regime for Croatian nationals within the TTIP talks.