Business Groups Say Stalled Doha Talks Need Change of Direction
On May 2, 2011, the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Farm Bureau Federation, Business Roundtable, Coalition of Services Industries, Emergency Committee for American Trade, National Foreign Trade Council, and the U.S. Council for International Business issued a joint statement about the lack of progress in the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round.
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Current Deal Lacks Balance & Ambition, Negotiations Should Change Direction
The groups state that what is currently on the table in Geneva lacks balance and ambition. According to the negotiation participants, the gaps in services, agriculture and manufactured goods appear to be unbridgeable under current circumstances. Real change in the substantive direction of the negotiations is the way the Round will produce meaningful results. Therefore, they encourage the U.S. and all WTO Members to devote their energy to finding a productive, trade-expanding direction for the Doha Round and the multilateral trading system.
WTO’s Lamy to Consult with Members on Path Forward, Report Back on May 31
WTO’s Director-General Lamy stated on May 3, 2011 that he intends to consult with individual and groups of Members over the next few weeks on a way forward in the stalled Doha negotiations. On May 31, he will inform the Trade Negotiating Committee of the outcome of these activities.
WTO press release, dated 05/03/11, available here.