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Congressmen Weigh-In on WTO Progress

Both the House and Senate chairmen with jurisdiction over international trade have weighed-in with their thoughts on the Doha Round of WTO trade negotiations. The consensus: little hope in the WTO system.

House Ways & Means Chairman Thomas suggested last week that the U.S. should
shift its focus from the Doha Round to creating bilateral agreements.

Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Chuck Grassley says that the U.S. has already done more than most. "The U.S. put a meaningful offer on the table last October to jumpstart the agriculture negotiations," he says.

While U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said that it is critical that the U.S. presses forward with both the Doha Round and bilateral agreements, he believes there is nothing more that the U.S. can do to our policy to move the Doha Round forward. "It takes political will on the part of other countries."