BackUS sees no quick fix in Doha trade round
US sees no quick fix in Doha trade round
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Geneva: There can be no quick fix to end the deadlock in the World Trade Organization’s long-running Doha Round talks, the new US ambassador to the WTO said on Monday.
To achieve a breakthrough, it is vital for China, India and Brazil to step up to their responsibilities as major world economic players and engage in hard negotiations in Geneva, the envoy, Michael Punke, told reporters.
The three advanced developing economies had to open up their economies “to the degree that is commensurate with the benefit they have gained from participating in the global economy" in the push for a new global trade accord, Punke said.
“I am here with the support of my government to negotiate a Doha agreement that is balanced and ambitious," he said.
The envoy, a trade law and policy expert whose appointment was recently approved by the US Congress, was speaking after discussions in Geneva with a range of other trade envoys from developed and developing countries.
The United States, who some emerging economies have said needs to adapt its own stance in several trade areas, is ready for further negotiations to move the WTO talks forward, he said.
He rejected suggestions Washington was dragging its feet and not making its position clear in areas like agriculture, industrial goods and services which are at the centre of the round.
He stressed that Congressional leaders from both Democratic and Republican parties and US business wanted a deal.
Other key partners in the talks — and particularly China, India and Brazil — knew exactly what the US wanted, Punke said, adding he had the feeling that their Geneva envoys did not have the full authority to negotiate.
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