National Cotton Council (NCC) Chairman Woods Eastland worried over the reported US offer to allow upland cotton produced in certain less developed countries to enter the United States duty and quota free.
US Trade Representative Rob Portman reportedly made the announcement about the duty-free, quota-free offer to West African states during a news conference at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Hong Kong.
He urged major cotton purchasers, such as China and India, to waive their own tariffs for cotton shipments from the West African states while arguing that cutting global tariffs and helping the West African countries increase their productivity could be at least as important as cutting subsidies.
Eastland said, “This appears to be unilateral action by the US in what should be multi-lateral negotiations.
If improved market access for cotton produced in the truly least developed countries will provide meaningful economic gains then all cotton importing countries should be expected to match the reported US proposal.”
Eastland also called on importing countries to ensure their market access commitments are administered in a transparent, predictable manner unlike the current practices of some of the world's largest importers.
He noted that US farmers operate an effective, self financed market promotion program and that the United States is a net importer of cotton because US consumers are the world's leading consumers ofcotton and cotton products on a per capita basis.
marketing@alchempro.com
