WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy says just because some countries have undergone political change is no reason to "set on our hands."
"And that is why since the beginning of the new year we have resumed work in all areas of negotiations with all chairman undertaking work according to the plan," Lamy said. "And all of this trade talk is taking place without the United States having the benefit of having a Trade Representative in place."
Ag Chair, Ambassador Crawford Falconer, says consultations, would have him speaking with each of the main negotiating groups and with some individual delegations such as the European Union. Falconer hopes that after two rounds of negotiations a set of issues could emerge that could be discussed in small, invitation only meetings.
Observers of the trade talks believe not much will happen until the United States has a Trade Representative able to participate in the talks. It could be late March before President Obama's nominee, Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, will be confirmed and briefed on trade policy issues. That might be in time for a meeting of 20 major trading powers in London on April 2.
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