"Agriculture is the key to breaking the
deadlock, and moving the entire negotiation forward. Today, the G-20 and
Australia
demonstrated forward movement in the area of market access.
"The
U.S.
welcomes their contribution to limit the number of sensitive products that would
be treated separately from the formula reductions. The G-20 suggested that the
percent should be no more than 1%.
This is very welcome indeed, and echoes the
U.S.
proposal.
"For
Doha to
achieve the goals set forth in the July 2004 framework, all WTO Members must
provide improved and substantial market access. To the degree there are numerous
exceptions to formula tariff cuts in agriculture – market access will be
diminished.
"In
agriculture, World Bank economists calculate that 93 percent of the global
benefits from removing distortions in agriculture would come from market
access. That is why the
United
States is
calling for dramatic tariff reductions for developed countries – no less than
55% and up to 90%.
"On the heels of the G-20 and Australian
offerings on sensitive products, we hope to see much more ambition from the
EU. The current EU proposal allows
for 8% of tariffs, 160 different tariff lines, to be deemed 'sensitive' and thus
exempt from strong cuts."
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