Trade Leaders Head to Geneva Next Week to Keep Doha On Forefront
Ambassador Portman, Deputy Susan Schwab and Ag Secretary Mike Johanns plan to meet with G20, G90 and Cairns group members.
Compiled by staff
Published: Apr 28, 2006
United States Trade Representative Rob Portman, Deputy Susan Schwab and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns are scheduled to travel to Geneva next week to move the WTO Doha Round forward despite the ministerial meeting cancellation.
Portman said this week that, "The U.S. position is pretty simple. We're not backing off one bit from our commitment to the round, from our dedication to having it be an ambitious round that really does create new trade flows and therefore economic growth and opportunity, particularly in the developing world. We will do everything we can to make that happen."
He adds that the United States has been careful to say it is interested in negotiating and in doing so in good faith. "Our proposal is not a take it or leave it approach," Portman says, adding that other countries put proposals on the table expecting that.
Portman had hoped for a meeting as part of the April 30 deadline. He says not having a meeting was a mistake. "I think it's always good for the ministers to come together eyeball to eyeball to talk honestly about our differences and attempt to bridge those differences. Even in the absence of a meeting of ministers, I plan to go to Geneva."
Portman says he hopes to have the opportunity to meet with various groups including the G20, the G90, and the Cairns group and others who are interested in a successful conclusion of the round. "We'll also meet, of course, with the Director General and the committee chairs and any others who happen to be in town. But the effort will be to try to figure out ways to break the deadlock and come to a resolution," he says.
Portman says there is a question about timing, whether ministers should wait until July 30th, or maybe do something in May or June in outlining key provisions. "My view is as soon as possible. We've been at this for over four and a half years now and it's time for us to face the big issues and decide, as I said at the outset, whether we are going to meet the Doha mandate which is to provide for new trade flows," Portman says.
Portman has been nominated to become the Director of the Office of Management and Budget while Schwab has been nominated to take his place at USTR. Portman expects he'll be at USTR until the end of May.
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