Soviet Union 1991

Second update

While Moscow was busy plotting against Poland, preparations had already begun for a multilateral ministerial interim meeting of the five countries of Britain, the United States, Germany, France and Poland. The main content of the meeting was about Poland's application to join the WTO. Of course, this was just an interim meeting to test the waters. After reaching a consensus, Poland's application to join the WTO would be completely approved in the Uruguay Round of negotiations.

Anyway, the opinions of other countries are not that important. What is important is the attitude of the four capitalist powers. As long as they nod, which blind country would dare to stand up and say no?

This ministerial interim meeting was held in Warsaw, perhaps to give Kwasniewski a face. Those who attended the meeting included British Chancellor of the Exchequer Clark, US Treasury Secretary Robert, German Finance Minister Theodore Weigl and French Economy Minister Alphonse Daly, while Poland showed a reception beyond the standard and directly let Polish Prime Minister Pawlak negotiate with them.

Because this negotiation is related to the development of Poland's economy in the next few decades, Prime Minister Pawlak is more serious than ever before. There are only a few people in the spacious international conference room. Except for the translator, the rest are almost all senior leaders of a country.

US Treasury Secretary Robert said, "Regarding Poland's accession to the World Trade Organization, representatives from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and France have put forward the following requirements. Poland must join the World Trade Organization as a developed country and have a two-year trade protection period. Once the trade protection period ends, Poland will have to perform its duties in accordance with the provisions of the World Trade Organization regulations. The following is the content of the regulations."

"First, Poland must cut tariffs. Comprehensively cut tariffs. The average tariff rate is reduced to 17%. For agricultural product taxes, it will be reduced to 15% within 5 years. Cancel Poland's subsidies for all export commodities. Secondly, open the agricultural product market. Implement a tariff ratio quota system for wheat, corn, rice and cotton to open the market. Gradually withdraw the important agricultural product trade controlled by the state. Third, the special provisions for controlling the sharp increase in Polish exports to the United States after the quota is cancelled are valid for 12 years, and the provisions prohibiting Poland from dumping to other countries overseas are valid for 15 years."

"Fourth, open Open up the retail market. Open up more distribution rights and after-sales services to foreign companies. Fifth, open up professional services. Professional services open to foreign companies include legal, accounting, medical, etc. Sixth, open up the automobile industry. The automobile tariff rate will be reduced from the current 80-100% in stages each year. It will be 25% by 1999, and American institutions will be allowed to provide car purchase loans. Seventh, open up the telecommunications industry. Open the telecommunications market to foreign capital, allowing foreign investors to hold 49% of the shares in the electronic service field, and increase to 50% after 2 years; foreign investors can fully invest in the market. Eighth, open up the banking industry. Foreign banks can handle currency business for Polish companies 2 years after joining the WTO, and must be fully open 5 years after joining the world trade. Ninth, open up the securities industry, allowing foreign financial companies to hold 33% of the shares in fund management companies, and Poland must open up all industries to the outside world in 2000. Allow foreign capital to enter all industries in Poland, including important industries currently directly controlled by the Polish government. "

The United States reads every treaty. Pawlak's brows furrowed. Prime Minister Pawlak knew very well that if he agreed to the request made by the US Treasury Secretary, then after the two-year trade protection period, all industries in Poland would be fatally hit by foreign capital, which would undoubtedly be fatal to local Polish companies.

Every time trade barriers are set up, they are to protect Poland's fragile economy, but the two-year period is too short for Poland and has no protective effect at all.

Prime Minister Pawlak, who is also the Minister of Economy, naturally would not think of letting Poland suffer. He protested against the request made by the US Treasury Secretary and showed his trump card, "Poland can agree to the US request, but your trade protection period is too short. Poland must join the World Trade Organization as a developing country."

"Reject." The British Chancellor of the Exchequer rejected Pawlak's request without thinking. Two years is too long for Britain. He wished he could show the barbaric style of the sun never sets and directly plunder wealth through war, instead of being like an aristocrat and scheming at the negotiation table.

But now the United States is more patient and continues to listen to them.

"Poland was one of the rich socialist countries during the Soviet era. We cannot choose to classify you from a developed country to a developing country just because you changed your country's system. This is unfair to other member states."

Pavlak nodded, spread his hands and said, "In this case, Poland also has something to say. Before agreeing to join the World Trade Organization, the Soviet Union had approached Poland to discuss the establishment of an economic mutual assistance association to deepen economic trade between the two countries. So is Poland now eligible to join the WTO as a developing country?"

Pavlak's words made the four economic giants look at each other in bewilderment. There is such information?

Poland now has two choices, either to join the WTO or to set up a separate portal and establish an economic mutual assistance system with the Soviet Union. This is not a good thing for Western countries. But Minister Robert and his people will definitely not agree to Poland's 15-year WTO protection period, which is tantamount to digging a hole for themselves to jump into.

"It is impossible for us to agree to a fifteen-year trade protection period. This is not in compliance with the provisions of the WTO." The French Minister of Economy did not even need to wear a mask, and directly showed his ferocious face, vetoing the content of the World Trade Agreement in black and white.

"Poland cannot join the WTO as a developing country. As a rapidly growing emerging economy, Poland has the obligation to shoulder more responsibilities, so we will not agree to your request. We would rather delay or veto Poland's request to join the WTO. "Daly said through gritted teeth.

Pawlak looked at the French Minister of Economy with a smile on his face, as if I'm just going to do this and you can't do anything to me. The important thing is that Pawlak knows that if he agrees to the French request, Poland may really not have a good life in the future.

Pawlak does not need to involve the whole of Poland for a little profit, but if he can win a longer period of trade protection, then this will be an interesting venture for Poland. Maybe you can make a lot of money from your investment.

The negotiations reached a deadlock for a while, and no one knew what would happen next. The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, the European troublemaker, stepped forward to ease the relationship between the two parties.

"In this case, we announce the suspension of negotiations for a period of time to give both parties more time to think about it."

When the negotiations were interrupted, the finance ministers of the four countries had no good expressions. Obviously they did not know that the Soviet Union would actually intervene in the Polish issue, not to mention whether the establishment of an economic committee was true or false, but Poland could indeed Use this piece of news to blackmail four countries.

"We must re-formulate our policies. If Poland is biased towards the Soviet Union, then the strategies we have formulated before will be invalid." When talking about strategies, Finance Minister Robert specifically raised his head and looked at the other three people, and everyone's expressions All gloomy and terrifying. Because this strategy is the little calculation everyone makes in their mind.

"Damn Yanayev." Clark cursed, as if the thing he was about to get was suddenly interfered with.

"Complaining can't solve any problems, Minister Clark." German Finance Minister Weigel, who has been silent, said, "Now we have to bargain within more than two years and within fifteen years. Of course, everyone hopes that this period will be as low as possible. Okay, after all, everyone knows what’s going on.”

The French Minister of Economy, who had been holding his chin in thought, raised his head at this time, looked around at the gloomy-looking people, and gave his opinion, "If we can't make a fuss about the number of years, then we can impose a more harsh treaty on Poland, so that The other side surrenders. What Poland lacks now is the right to choose, not the right to veto.”

Daley's words made everyone's eyes brighten. They raised their heads and began to think about the feasibility of this plan.

"If this is the case, then we can provide several sets of plans for Poland to choose. I hope Prime Minister Pawlak will not have difficulty in choosing." (To be continued.)