*EPF312 09/10/2003
Fact Sheet: U.S. Seeks Progress at WTO on Investment, Competition, Transparency
(USTR hopes to negotiate, clarify "Singapore Issues" in Cancun) (430)

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) says in a September 8 fact sheet it hopes to advance work in the areas of investment, competition, transparency in government procurement, and trade facilitation -- known as the Singapore Issues -- in World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations September 10-14 in Cancun, Mexico.

Following is the text of the fact sheet:

(begin fact sheet)

Office of the United States Trade Representative, www.ustr.gov
September 8, 2003

"SINGAPORE ISSUES"

Background

The 1996 WTO Singapore Ministerial launched exploratory work on the following four issues:

-- Investment
-- Competition
-- Transparency in Government Procurement
-- Trade Facilitation

Because of the link to the Singapore Ministerial, the four issues became known collectively as the "Singapore Issues." However, as the four issues are not substantively linked, work has continued on each of them on an individual basis.

Prospects at Cancun

At the 2001 Doha Ministerial, Ministers gave individual direction for the advancement of work in the areas of investment, competition, transparency in government procurement, and trade facilitation, and agreed that negotiations on each issue would take place after the Cancun Ministerial in a negotiation format that would be decided upon at the Cancun Ministerial.

Going into Cancun, the draft Ministerial text contains two options for each Singapore issue: one that would commence negotiations, and another that would continue work in a clarification phase.

In the view of the United States, a positive result should be achieved at Cancun on each of the four issues, in accordance with the Doha mandate. The specific nature of post-Cancun work should reflect the individual degree of progress and understanding achieved for each issue.

-- For example, there appears to be a high degree of understanding and shared ambition among WTO Members regarding a Cancun launch of negotiations in the areas of Trade Facilitation (aimed at improving border procedures) and Transparency in Government Procurement (aimed improving efficiencies and diminishing potential for corruption in government purchases).

Issues

The United States views a Cancun launch of negotiations on Trade Facilitation and Transparency in Government Procurement as an achievement that would present "win-win" opportunities for all WTO Members -- in particular developing countries.

While the complexities presented in the areas of Investment and Competition have positioned the nature and progress of the work differently than for Trade Facilitation and Transparency in Government Procurement, the United States is actively working with other Members to achieve a positive decision at Cancun that can move the work in these areas forward.

(end fact sheet)

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

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