Speech of Susan Schwab at WTO delegation meeting in Geneva
27 Jul '06
3 min read
Susan C Schwab
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Susan C. Schwab made speech at WTO delegation meeting in Geneva:
Thank you, Pascal. And thank you especially for your unflagging efforts in the past month on behalf of our negotiations. You are correct when you note "significant progress in all areas of negotiations." I regret some of our other speakers are selling short that progress.
It is with a profound sense of disappointment that I take the floor this afternoon. The Doha Development Agenda is our generation's chance to make a significant contribution to economic growth, the expansion of trade, and – most important –opportunities for millions of people, especially in developing countries, to make a better life for themselves and their families. That's the promise of Doha. We must not let that opportunity slip through our fingers. Sadly, today we face the prospect of that happening.
Despite the serious setback that we have experienced in recent weeks – and during the past 36 hours – I want to make absolutely clear that the United States remains determined to work with other Members to see the completion of an ambitious Doha agreement – one that opens markets for agricultural and manufactured goods, as well as services.
We came to Geneva this weekend with the objective of achieving a breakthrough in the Doha Development Agenda. We came with the aim of achieving modalities that would lead to substantial reform in agriculture in accordance with the 2001 Doha mandate, the July 2004 Framework, and the Hong Kong Declaration.
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