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WTO ag talks not yet dead
DES MOINES (DTN)--A framework for agriculture issues would need to be completed by August or it won't be completed this year, U.S. Ambassador Allen Johnson told reporters April 22.
During a return trip from the WTO talks in Geneva, Johnson said progress is occurring after many thought the previous agriculture talks in Doha failed just three months ago. In Cancun, the site of the previous WTO talks, agriculture discussions were a failure.
"After meeting with over 70 countries, people are trying to problem solve," he said. "Just three months ago you wouldn't have had that thought."
Johnson said the issue is finding a way to get the 148 WTO member countries to agree on how to approach export competition, domestic support and market access.
"For instance, the U.S. is going to be asked to get involved with these issues and we want to assure our farmers that if the U.S. is going to reduce government support, other countries like (those in) Europe are going to as well, for the sake of additional market access," he said.
In the recent round of world-trade talks, the EU's huge farm budget, worth 43 billion euros a year, was criticized.
Johnson said more time is needed before WTO members start to draw up agriculture language for trade.
"The fact we got focus is good, for example with export competition we have established there should be an end date with export subsidies, that stuff wasn't happening before," he said. "With market access, it's agreed that tariff cuts and TRQ expansion needs to occur and now we keep working for more progress in the next three months."
The next WTO session in Geneva is scheduled for June.
"We are not limiting ourselves to meeting dates," he said. "We will still be reaching out to other countries even outside of WTO meetings."
Date: 4/27/04
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