U.S. Chamber Praises WTO Accomplishment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce applauded the U.S. Trade Representative's office and other negotiators for their successful efforts last week in Geneva to keep multilateral trade talks on track.

"The looming alternative to an agreement – a complete collapse – would have been unthinkable," said Daniel Christman, U.S. Chamber senior vice president for international affairs. "There is no question that the five primary areas of concern addressed in the framework – agriculture, manufactured goods, services, trade facilitation, and special consideration for the poorest countries – constitute 'must-do' components of a successful multilateral round."

The United States and 146 other WTO member countries approved this agreement as part of their efforts to achieve objectives established in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001. The urgency of these efforts increased in the wake of the collapsed September 2003 WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico.

"The potential benefits for the U.S. economy are significant," Christman continued. "U.S. goods and services will enjoy greatly improved access to foreign markets, as countries with the highest barriers agree to make the greatest reductions. Also, small business in particular will benefit from the streamlined Customs procedures and red tape reductions envisioned under the framework's trade facilitation initiative.

"We recognize that a successful Round requires a robust agriculture component and thus are also pleased that this framework makes possible substantial new opportunities for U.S. agricultural interests.

"The WTO General Council's decision to delay the target dates for completion of remaining negotiations reflects significant tensions in the multilateral trade system that we neglect at our peril," Christman concluded. "It is important that leaders work even harder than before to correct these tensions, and achieve meaningful results, before the next ministerial conference convenes in December 2005."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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