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

USTR Press Releases are available on the USTR website at www.ustr.gov
2004-65

For Immediate Release:
August 1, 2004

Doha Talks Back on Track as WTO Agrees on Negotiating Framework

GENEVA - World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations were moved ahead
this week in Geneva with an agreement that puts the WTO on course to
open markets for agriculture, goods and services. The agreed framework
provides structure and direction to the ongoing trade talks, which are
designed to promote global economic growth and development in developed
and developing countries.

"Today's decision is a crucial step for global trade. After the detour
in Cancun, we have put the WTO negotiations back on track. We have laid
out a map for the road ahead. Next, we will negotiate the speed limits
for how far and how fast we will lower trade barriers," said U.S. Trade
Representative Robert B. Zoellick. "Tonight, 147 economies have ensured
that 2004 will go down as a productive year for the Doha trade
negotiations. There's a lot of work yet to be done. But today's
framework is a milestone.

"We have agreed to make historic reforms in global agriculture trade. We
have laid out a course to open markets for manufactured goods. We've
agreed to intensify negotiations to open services markets, which now
account for more than half of the economies of most countries, developed
and developing. And we are launching negotiations on customs procedures
that will cut red tape and reduce the cost of selling into some
countries by as much as fifteen percent.
"We've come a long way since Cancun. We have much left to do. But if we
can build on the good work of this week, we can deliver a result that
will make life better for millions of our citizens."

"President Bush confounded conventional wisdom by empowering me and my
Administration colleagues to make trade success a priority, even in an
election year, because he believes open markets build stronger economies
and help create jobs in the United States," said Zoellick.

A fact sheet describing the agreement is available at www.ustr.gov.

Background on U.S. efforts this year:

The United States is focused on opening markets globally, regionally,
and bilaterally. Zoellick stated in a January letter to all WTO
Ministers that 2004 should not be a lost year for Doha negotiations. The
January letter also outlined ways to put the negotiations back on track,
and number of ideas have been taken up by others. In February, he
traveled over 32,000 miles around the world and met with over 40
counterparts to hear their views and discuss how best to get the
negotiations back on track. In May, Zoellick hosted a small gathering of
colleagues in London to facilitate a discussion about how to keep the
Doha negotiations moving forward. He joined Ministers from the EU, India
and Australia at a gathering hosted by Brazil in Sao Paulo in early
June. He also joined these colleagues at a meeting in Paris and then
traveled to Mauritius on July 12 for a meeting of some of the so-called
G-90, a group of ACP (African, Carribean and Pacific), and African
Union, and Least Developed Countries.

Before traveling to Geneva, on Sunday Zoellick met with the Ministers of
four West African nations (Benin; Burkino Faso; Chad; and, Mali)
concerned with cotton trade issues. They were in the U.S. on a working
visit hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National
Cotton Council to meet with U.S. farmers and members of the private
sector to focus on cotton diversification and development efforts. A
similar visit of U.S. farmers and members of the private sector will
visit Western Africa later this year.

Ministers from a wide range of countries joined in the effort to advance
the negotiations in Geneva. During the week, Zoellick reached out to a
broad group of trading partners in intensive consultations to put the
Doha negotiations back on track.

###