I see. Thank you.
The proposed alliance is a pluralistic trade block. We've recently seen a worldwide proliferation of bilateral and plurilateral trade negotiations, leading to what many are calling a spaghetti bowl of trade agreements.
Some of the criticisms of that are that we're creating a trading system that is complex, inefficient, contradictory, and confusing. Someone said that the most complicated job in the world is going to be a customs officer, trying to determine what goods and services apply, depending on the country or the trading block from which the goods are coming into your country.
Most economists agree that what we really need and should be aiming for is a global rules-based system targeted at growth, sustainable development, and poverty alleviation based on a multilateral approach involving all 159 members of the WTO.
Your Excellency, what is your government's position on a multilateral approach to trade?