16 July 2002

U.S. Trade Officials Meet Incoming WTO Director-General
Allgeier reiterates U.S. leadership in Doha negotiations

Two high-level U.S. trade officials have met with the incoming
director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Office of
the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) says.

In a July 15 press release, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Peter
Allgeier said that he and Linnet Deily, U.S. ambassador to the WTO,
discussed a broad range of issues with Supachai Panitchpakdi of
Thailand in advance of his taking office September 1 to succeed
Director-General Mike Moore.

Allgeier and Deily are in Geneva attending a meeting of the Trade
Negotiating Committee (TNC), the group of high-level national
officials overseeing the work of all the WTO negotiating groups.

Following is the text of the press release:

(begin text)

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
20508
July 15, 2002

Statement by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Peter
Allgeier

WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement today by Ambassador Peter
Allgeier, Deputy USTR, after he and U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Linnet
Deily met with incoming WTO Director General Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi
in Geneva, Switzerland:

"This afternoon Ambassador Deily and I had a very good meeting with
Dr. Supachai, the incoming Director General of the World Trade
Organization. We agreed that trade is a powerful tool in helping to
expand freedom, the rule of law, prosperity and sustainable
development. We discussed a broad range of WTO and trade issues, from
the current work on the Doha Development Agenda, including this week's
TNC meeting, to the importance of building the capacity of less
developed WTO members to participate fully in trade liberalization.
The United States played a key leadership role in making Doha a
success, and we assured Dr. Supachai that he can count on continued
U.S. leadership as he assumes his new position.

"I also want to thank Dr. Supachai for his recent statements regarding
the need for speedy approval of Trade Promotion Authority by Congress,
and TPA's importance to furthering trade liberalization.

"We look forward to Dr. Supachai's tenure as WTO Director General and
the wisdom and expertise he brings to this post."

(end text)