|
US Still Commited to DOHA?
|
Can't Post
|
|
The United States is committed to a WTO deal to tear down trade barriers even if power in Washington is now split following this week's election, Trade Representative Susan Schwab said.
"President George W. Bush is committed to the Doha Round, and I look forward to continuing to work with members of both parties to win support for an agreement that will spur development and alleviate poverty through new trade flows in agriculture, manufactured goods and services," Schwab added.
The Doha Round on dismantling global trade barriers has been deadlocked since July, owing most notably to bitter rows between the United States, the
European Union and developing countries over agricultural subsidies.
Analysts warned that with the US Congress now under Democratic control, protectionist voices could find new influence or that the party will, at least, demand extra protections on labour standards, the environment and human rights.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting Thursday, Bush said trade priorities for Congress should include conferring normal trading relations status on Vietnam, so that US businesses can benefit from its upcoming entry into the WTO.
The longer the WTO impasse drags on, the closer Bush gets to losing his "Trade Promotion Authority" on June 30. Under TPA, the US administration can fast-track trade pacts through Congress without amendment.
However, Schwab stressed, the WTO impasse cannot be broken by the United States alone as she outlined a four-fold strategy for driving the Doha negotiations to success:
-- The EU, Japan and other major rich players must show "substantial improvements" to their WTO offers on agricultural tariff cuts.
-- Major developing countries will also need to outline "deeper cuts in agricultural tariffs".
-- The United States and EU must come forward with "deeper reductions in trade-distorting farm support".
-- All but the poorest countries must cut industrial tariffs "at least across a significant number of goods".
You think the US are still committed?
|
econmod
Broker
/ Moderator
Nov 9, 2006, 1:56 PM
Post #1 of 1
(735 views)
|
