Background on the Current Round of WTO Negotiations
"President Bush, U.S. Trade Representative Zoellick and I have made agriculture a top priority for the new round of international trade talks. We are hopeful that these  meetings will set the stage for further reductions in tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and a stronger science-based dispute settlement process. These areas will help increase access to world markets for U.S. farmers, ranchers and food producers."  -- Secretary Ann M. Veneman

The United States proposal for world ag trade reform builds on earlier world trade reforms to: 

• Eliminate export subsidies

• Reduce trade-distorting domestic support

• Substantially reduce or eliminate tariffs

• Further discipline state-trading enterprises that control imports and exports

• Give special consideration to the needs of least-developed and developing countries

• Recommit to the concept of the availability of food for all

• Engage in sectoral initiatives for specific commodities to go beyond those generally applicable in the areas of market access, export competition, and domestic support

White House

    11/14/01            President Supportive of New Round of Global Trade Negotiations

USDA News

    Daily Updates    USDA Radio Line
                                --  Archived Radio Line interviews on Trade
    06/26/02            Bush Administration Remains Committed to Increasing Trade Opportunities for U.S. Agriculture (June 26, 2002)  - Transcript of Press Conference 
    11/16/01            Secretary Veneman's comments on Trade Negotiations before the National Association 
                                of Farm Broadcasters (recorded audio/video webcast)
    11/14/01            Historic Opportunity for U.S. Farmers As New Agenda For Trade Negotiations are
                                Launched in Qatar
    11/14/01            Recorded Audio Webcast of the Final News Conference by Secretary Veneman and U.S. Trade
                                Representative Zoellick from the WTO Talks (.mp3 format) 
    11/10/01            Veneman Says U.S. Farmers Will Benefit From China And Taiwan Entry Into WTO
    11/09/01            WTO Meetings Begin in Doha With Focus on Agriculture
                                Veneman Fighting for Increased Market Opportunities for U.S. Farmers
    11/05/01            Veneman Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Ending Hunger at U.N. Food Conference; 
                                Urges Continued Development of Biotechnology to Help Reduce Global Malnutrition 
                                and Poverty
    11/02/01            Veneman To Advocate U.S. Farm Interests in World Trade Talks

Trade Disputes

    12/20/02            United States Wins in WTO Challenge to Canadian Dairy Subsidies

    12/17/02            United States Files WTO Case on Monopolistic Canadian Wheat Board

USTR News

    11/05/02            Trade Talks Between U.S. and Southern Africa to Begin in 90 Days
                             -- Zoellick's letter to Senator Byrd (pdf)
                             -- Zoellick's letter to Representative Hastert (pdf)
    11/05/02            Zoellick Notifies Congress on WTO Negotiations Progress
                             -- Zoellick's letter to Senator Byrd (pdf)
                             -- Zoellick's letter to Representative Hastert (pdf)
    07/12/02            U.S. to Advance Doha Development Agenda in Geneva, July 15-19
    07/11/02            International Trade Commission Report Rates U.S. One of World's Most Open Economies  
    11/14/01            Results of the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference
    11/14/01            USTR Zoellick Says World Has Chosen Path of Hope, Openness, Development and Growth
    11/09/01            USTR Public Press Conference (real player)
                                -- DUSTR Peter Allgeier
                                -- AUSTR for China, Taiwan and Hong Kong Jeff Bader
                                -- USTR Zoellick and USDA Sec. Veneman
    11/11/01            U.S. Trade Representative Zoellick Welcomes Ministerial Decision on Taiwan's
                                 Admission into the World Trade Organization (pdf, html) 
    11/12/01            10 Ways Global Trade Negotiations Would Benefit Developing Nations (pdf, html)

WTO Ag Information

     WTO China Accession
           -- Conference ends with agreement on new programme  
     WTO Negotiations Offer the Best  Chance for Agricultural Trade Reform (.pdf)
     Agricultural Policy Reform in the WTO--The Road Ahead
     Trade Issues Facing U.S. Horticulture in the WTO Negotiations
     Fact Sheet -- The World Trade Organization and U.S. Agriculture
     Fact Sheet -- What's At Stake for Agriculture and the U.S. Economy?
     Fact Sheet -- The World Trade Organization Works For You
     Fact Sheet -- America and the World Trade Organization
     Fact Sheet -- Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002: US World Trade Organization Obligations
     State by State analysis of trade benefits
     WTO key topic page by USDA Economic Research Service

US Proposals

     U.S. WTO Agricultural Proposal
        -- TRQ proposal
     Note on Domestic Support Reform
     Charts
        --  Restrictive Tariffs Hamper U.S. Exports
        --  Export Subsidies Disadvantage U.S. Agricultural Exports
        --  U.S. Producers Face High Levels of Trade-Distorting Support

Other Links

     WTO Home page
        --  Doha Ministerial Conference Ends With Agreement on New Programme
     WTO Doha ministerial site
        -- Ministerial Declaration
     U.S. State Department WTO web site
     USTR WTO web site

Main Page: U.S. Proposal for Global Agricultural Trade Reform

Last modified: Friday, November 18, 2005