*EPF116 09/15/2003
Text: Trade Talks Collapse Over Unwillingness of Some To Negotiate, USTR Says
(Zoellick says "won't do" countries overwhelmed efforts of "can do" nations) (280)
Five days of talks among trade ministers representing the 148 member countries of the World Trade Organization collapsed September 14 because of an impasse over whether to move ahead on negotiations involving what are called the "Singapore" issues: investment, competition, transparency in government procurement, and trade facilitation.
"The rhetoric of the ����won't do' overwhelmed the concerted efforts of the ����can do," Zoellick said in a statement issued September 14 in Cancun, Mexico where the September 10-14 talks were being held. "'Won't do' led to impasse."
Zoellick said that the United States was ready to negotiate based on compromise texts prepared by five trade facilitators, but that some countries were not willing to address the Singapore issues.
Following is the text of Zoellick's statement:
(begin text)
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEPTEMBER 14, 2003
Statement of U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick
"Whether developed or developing, there were 'can do' and 'won't do' countries here. The rhetoric of the 'won't do' overwhelmed the concerted efforts of the 'can do'. 'Won't do' led to impasse.
"We came ready to work off the first chair's text. Today, we were willing to work off the text prepared by the five facilitators, and we remain willing to work on these items.
"Today we stalled because of the Singapore issues, but the larger lesson of Cancun is that useful compromise among 148 countries requires a serious willingness to focus on work -- not rhetoric -- to attain the fine balance between ambition and flexibility."
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
Return to Public File Main Page
Return to Public Table of Contents