US Mission Geneva

“The commitment of the United States to the World Trade Organization is not new, it’s not fleeting, and superficial, but rather longstanding, steadfast, and profound. It is a commitment founded on the work of generations of Americans from both of our political parties, all believing that rules-based trade is vital to our collective well-being.

On December 13th, the US Mission co-hosted, with the Republic of Poland, a reception at the UN of Geneva to commemorate the closing of 2011 as the International Year of Forests. Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Betty E. King noted how 2011 has “delivered compelling examples from across the globe of national and international efforts to sustain and preserve forests.” Following a series of remarks, Ambassador King, along with other high level country representatives, placed on a live “United Nations tree” decorations that symbolize the cultural, economic, environmental and social importance of forests in their respective countries. The maple tree will later be planted on the UN of Geneva grounds as an enduring symbol of the International Year of Forests. The ceremony also served to mark the beginning of 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy. The US Mission will be involved in events across 2012 that showcase how sustainable energy can contribute to carbon emissions reductions and improve the lives of hundreds of millions around the world.

Moving swiftly to implement the findings of successful research has saved lives and slowed the global pandemic of HIV/AIDS, according to a U.S. leader in the campaign, Ambassador-at-Large Eric Goosby.

Today USTR Ron Kirk welcomed the conclusion of the revision of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) that will provide new opportunities for U.S. suppliers of goods and services to secure government procurement contracts in numerous additional markets in WTO Member economies.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will arrive in Geneva on Thursday, December 15, to participate in the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference. At the ministerial event, Kirk and his fellow ministers will discuss the state of play in the Doha Round of world trade negotiations and consider the terms of accession to the WTO for countries including Russia, Samoa, and Montenegro.

In advance of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk today announced steps aimed at enabling Least Developed Country (LDC) members of the WTO to benefit more fully from global trade.

By 2023, Turkey seeks to produce 30 percent of its power from renewable resources, including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass. By increasing renewable-energy and energy-efficiency exports, U.S. firms can help Turkey meet its energy needs while supporting American jobs in the growing clean-energy sector.

By the end of December, the last American troops will have departed from a “sovereign, self-reliant and democratic Iraq,” President Obama said, and both countries are moving forward on a postwar relationship that he said is one “based on Iraqi sovereignty and one based on equal partnerships, mutual interests and mutual respect.”

On December 8, 2011, the U.S. Delegation to the 7th Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Review Conference (BWC RevCon) hosted a side event on the United States Biodefense Program open to all conference participants