The
Hong Kong Ministerial will be the next
regularly scheduled leaders session for
the World Trade Organization (WTO). The
Ministerial seeks to begin concluding
the Doha Development Agenda negotiations
started in 2001. For agriculture, the
Doha trade negotiations continues
fundamental reforms initiated in the
Uruguay Round (1994). The highly
contentious agricultural talks offer a
unique opportunity to lower tariffs,
trade distorting support and ensure
fairer agricultural trade.
l“A
successful Doha Round will
reduce and eliminate tariffs and
other barriers on farm and
industrial goods. It will end
unfair agricultural subsidies.”
President George W. Bush,
Sept. 2005
Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration (12/22/05;
.pdf)
Implications Of EU Agriculture Market Access
Position (USTR Fact Sheet, January 2006;
pdf)
News
Transcript of Joint Media Availability by
USTR Portman and EU Commissioner Mandelson
(.pdf)
Discuss WTO negotiations (02/22/06)
WTO Saga (USDA
Radio -- 12/27/05;
real,
mp3,
wave)
EU Blamed For
Slow WTO Progress (USDA
Radio -- 12/21/05;
real,
mp3,
wave)
WEBCAST AUDIO: Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Holds Conference
Call To Discuss Conclusion Of The 6th WTO Ministerial Conference (12/19/05)
--
Transcript (12/19/05)
Johanns Promotes U.S. Agriculture Trade Issues With Ministers At World
Trade Organization Meeting (12/19/05)
Remarks by USTR Portman at the Closing Press Briefing (12/19/05)
--
More News
U.S. Proposal -
Oct., 2005
Doha: An Opportunity for Trade Reform — The
U.S. Proposal and Status of Negotiations
(WTO/Hong Kong NGO Roundtable, U.S. Department
of State, Nov. 4, 2005; Presentation by Dr. J.B.
Penn, Under Secretary/Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services/USDA)
USTR Statement on European Union WTO Counter
Proposal (10/28/05)
U.S. Offers Bold Plan on Agriculture To
Jumpstart Doha Round (10/10/05)
—
Facts on U.S. Proposal for Bold Reform in Global
Agricultural Trade (.pdf)
—
Analysis (includes proposal text; U.S. Department of State;
10/10/05)
Developing Countries Will Gain the Most from an
Ambitious Outcome of the Doha Development Agenda
(FAS Fact Sheet - Dec.
2005)
Export Competition—U.S.
wants to see the end of all export subsidies.
-- Export
Subsidies Today (.pdf)
Market Access—U.S.
must have significant reductions in tariff
barriers to U.S. products.
-- Tariffs Today (.pdf)
Domestic Support—U.S.
wants significant reductions in trade distorting
domestic supports if other make proportional
cuts and, the United States obtains substantial
market access.
-- Domestic
Support Today (.pdf)
--
White House Fact Sheet - Oct. 2005 (.pdf)
The World Trade
Organization
What is
the WTO?
The Doha
Round Continues Through
Hong Kong
Glossary
of Agriculture and World Trade Organization Terms
WTO
Briefing Papers from the Economic Research
Service-USDA
The
Negotiating Process
Revised
Draft Ministerial Text (12/02/05)
Agricultural Trade Reform and the Doha
Development Agenda (The World Bank;
November 2005)
WTO Doha Round: Agricultural Negotiating
Proposals (Congressional Research
Service; November 2005)
World Trade Organization:
Global Trade Talks
Back on Track, But Considerable Work Needed To
Fulfill Ambitious Objectives (U.S. Government
Accountability Office; May 2005)
Background on the U.S.
Proposal in the Doha Round
Framework Agreement (August 2004)
Cancun Ministerial (September 2003)
The U.S.
- E.U. Framework
(August 2003)
The
Harbinson Draft
(March 2003)
The Doha
Round (November 2001)
Hong Kong Ministerial Page from the
WTO
USTR's Hong Kong Ministerial Page
