*EPF319 09/26/01
Text: USTR Zoellick Sees WTO Texts as Basis for Trade Round
(Harbinson proposals address developing country concerns) (390)

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick says that two papers issued September 26 by Stuart Harbinson, chairman of the World Trade Organization's General Council, address the concerns of all trading countries and "will be the basis for developing a new round declaration that ministers will consider over the coming weeks."

The two papers -- one outlining an agenda for a new round of global trade negotiations and the other addressing developing country concerns over implementing commitments made in the previous Uruguay Round of negotiations -- come just five weeks before trade ministers from more than 130 WTO countries are to gather in Doha, Qatar.

Following is the text of the USTR statement:

(begin text)

Statement of U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick Regarding WTO Proposals for New Round

Washington -- U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick today issued the following statement regarding two proposals distributed to World Trade Organization (WTO) members for consideration:

Launching a new round of trade liberalization negotiations is essential to promoting global recovery, growth, and development. The global economy needs to move forward.

Today, WTO General Council Chairman Stuart Harbinson released two proposals for consideration, one regarding an agenda for a new round and one involving implementation. These are important milestones on the road to Doha.

This package for the WTO ministerial is a serious and focused effort reflecting input from all WTO Members and will be the basis for developing a new round declaration that ministers will consider over the coming weeks. The Chairman's efforts provide a basis for us to move forward.

The proposal for implementation demonstrates that WTO members take seriously the concerns of those in the developing world.

The proposal for the declaration indicates that with good will and additional creativity and flexibility by all parties, it will be possible to launch the new round at the upcoming ministerial meeting.

We intend to work constructively with other WTO Members to craft these proposals into an acceptable agenda for all. I want to thank General Council Chairman Harbinson and Director General Mike Moore for their leadership and important efforts.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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