Members of the House of Representatives and Senate strongly emphasize for a single-undertaking approach in the upcoming World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations in Hong Kong.
National Cotton Council is happy with their approach.
NCC Chairman Woods Eastland stated that the strong showing of Congressional support indicated a continued commitment in the United States to a single undertaking in agriculture in the Doha Round of trade negotiations.
Thirty-three Representatives sent a joint letter to US Trade Representative Rob Portman and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns encouraging them to continue their opposition for an 'early harvest' for cotton and urging the United States to oppose any language in the ministerial text that 'would commit the Round to an outcome for cotton or other commodity that is different from those to be obtained for agriculture in general.'
Several members of the Senate sent a similar letter stating that Congress 'will not support concessions on cotton without an underlying agreement on agriculture and substantial and meaningful market access commitments.'
Eastland stated that Congress was obviously reacting to grandstanding by the European Union and Oxfam International as they pursue a misguided attack on the US cotton program.
'The all-out attack on the US cotton program is based on faulty economics and biased analysis,' Eastland said. 'A divide-and-conquer approach to worldwide trade negotiations will make it more difficult to achieve progress in the Doha negotiations.
marketing@alchempro.com
