19 July 2002
Text: USTR Zoellick Praises Progress in Global Trade Talks
(Says Geneva meetings sent "encouraging" message) (600)

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick says World Trade
Organization (WTO) talks have been energized by recent meetings that
produced agreement on a negotiating plan for tariff reductions in
manufactured goods.

That tariff agreement "means that negotiations in all areas are now
focused on substance," Zoellick said in a July 19 statement following
the weeklong meeting in Geneva of the Trade Negotiating Committee, the
group of high-level national officials that steers the negotiations
launched last November in Doha, Qatar.

"The message from Geneva is encouraging," Zoellick said.

The USTR also underlined the need for Congress to grant trade
promotion authority (TPA) to President Bush, citing WTO leaders who
said that TPA would ensure U.S. leadership in the ongoing trade round.

Under TPA, also known as "fast track," Congress agrees to limit itself
to yes-or-no votes on trade agreements negotiated by the
administration within a certain time period and without possibility of
amendment.

The last grant of such authority expired in 1994, and reauthorization
attempts have failed due to disputes over labor and environmental
issues.

Following is the text of Zoellick's statement:

(begin text)

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Executive Office of the President
July 19, 2002

Zoellick Praises WTO Progress on Doha Agenda

WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick expressed
his appreciation for the new energy the WTO Trade Negotiations
Committee gave this week to the global negotiations launched at Doha
in November last year.

"The message from Geneva is encouraging. I am pleased that so many
Members are joining us to press the agenda ahead. The Doha agenda,
with its promise of liberalization and a stronger set of trading
rules, is essential for future growth and development of the global
economy," said Zoellick. "Agreement this week to a negotiating plan
for tariff reductions in manufactured goods means that negotiations in
all areas are now focused on substance."

"The United States has made far-reaching proposals in agriculture and
services and we are keeping our pledge to work actively in the areas
of intellectual property protection and access to medicines," said
Zoellick, who reiterated that the United States will continue to play
a central role in the negotiations. "We have led by example in
strengthening technical assistance and capacity building programs --
both at the WTO and bilaterally."

"The signal from Geneva is clear: our partners are ready to bargain
hard but they are looking for U.S. leadership and direction. The road
ahead will be challenging and difficult if we are to realize our goals
by the deadline of January 1, 2005. As WTO Director General Mike Moore
and incoming Director General Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi have said,
passage of Trade Promotion Authority by the Congress will provide the
certainty of our leadership and enable the United States to continue
to shape the global economy of the future."

In discussing Congressional action on TPA at a news conference in
Geneva on Thursday, Moore said, "The world does need American
leadership ...If it weren't to happen, this would be enormously
disappointing in terms of the round." And Dr. Supachai added that
"During the time that we are waiting for these kinds of positive
signals, I don't think we should relent our effort. We need to carry
on as best we can with the mandated negotiations, realizing that one
of these days the trade promotion authority will be achieved."

(end text)