Statement as Delivered by Ambassador Dennis Shea WTO General Council Meeting, December 9, 2019 INFORMAL PROCESS ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE APPELLATE BODY – REPORT BY THE FACILITATOR AND DRAFT DECISION ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE APPELLATE BODY (WT/GC/W/791) We thank the Facilitator, Ambassador David Walker, for his considerable efforts to date …
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The United States associates itself with the joint statement on fisheries subsidies as delivered by Argentina. I want to use my time today to offer views on five key elements where the WTO must take action as we move toward MC12.
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Statements by the United States at the Meeting of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body Delivered by Ambassador Dennis Shea, U.S. Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization Geneva, November 22, 2019 NOTE: Only item 4 was delivered by Ambassador Shea. The other statements in this document were delivered at staff level. Read the Statements (PDF 274 KB) …
Read More» Ambassador Dennis Shea: “In September 2016, at their summit in Hangzhou, China, G20 Leaders called for the establishment of a Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity.”
Read More» The United States is pleased to participate in Lao PDR’s first ever Trade Policy Review since the 2013 WTO accession.
Read More» The United States commends Peru for its continued implementation of sound economic policies, which have led to sustained economic growth, even during times of global economic headwinds.
Read More» The United States continues to believe that all WTO Members should be prepared to agree to a permanent moratorium on customs duties on digital transmissions.
Read More» We thank the Facilitator, Ambassador David Walker, for his considerable efforts to date and for his report to Members.
Read More» I would like to use my intervention to touch upon four subjects: special and differential treatment, the fisheries subsidies negotiations, the e-commerce negotiations through the Joint Statement Initiative, and the Appellate Body.
Read More» In the United States, cotton is a vital part of many rural communities across America, and the benefits extend far beyond farming families.
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “We commend Costa Rica for the importance it has placed on trade liberalization and integration into the global economy as a means to economic growth.”
Read More» We thank the proponents for their paper. While we disagree with much of the paper’s content, we expect some of the issues it raises to be a significant part of the discussion in this Council as we approach MC12, so we appreciate the opportunity to confront them head on.
Read More» Let me begin by repeating what I have said at recent meetings of the General Council: if WTO Members say that we support a rules-based trading system, then the Appellate Body must follow the rules we all agreed to.
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Statement by the United States at the July 22, 2019, meeting of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body.
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “The United States remains ready and willing to engage constructively and actively in moving these negotiations forward to a successful, meaningful outcome that actually changes the status quo.”
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For more than 4 years, over 40 Members have taken the floor in the SPS and TBT Committees to ask the European Union to reconsider unsound policies–the implementation of which would have a profound and adverse impact on global agricultural production and trade, particularly in developing countries.
Read More» The United States is an active partner in Aid for Trade discussions in the WTO. We are also the largest single-country provider of trade capacity building assistance in the world.
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Canada is a good neighbor and key trading partner, and its trade regime continues to be of keen interest to the United States. The United States is by far Canada’s number one trading partner, accounting for 75.1 percent of Canada’s merchandise goods exports and over half of its goods imports, as noted in the Secretariat’s …
Read More» “For the sake of clarity, let me begin by repeating what I said at last December’s General Council meeting: if WTO Members say that we support a rules-based trading system, then the Appellate Body must follow the rules we all agreed to.”
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“I want to thank you, Director General for reminding all of us of the re-commitment our Ministers made during MC-11 to our existing notification obligations under the Subsidies Agreement.”
Read More» As we continue fisheries subsidies negotiations in the Rules Negotiating Group, discussions have all too often devolved into abstract debates on definitions, fisheries management regimes, and jurisdictional issues. The subsidy notifications called for by our ministers are straightforward and serve as an important reality check on those discussions.
Read More» The proposal circulated for today’s meeting is a culmination of improvements based on the work of all of the co-sponsors, the extremely helpful Member feedback we received during three CTG meetings, as well as countless bilateral and small group meetings.
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “We would like to begin by congratulating Samoa on its first WTO Trade Policy Review.”
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “I am pleased to join you today because this negotiation has the potential to be a real game-changer. The fisheries subsidies negotiations represent a potentially pivotal opportunity for the WTO to demonstrate that its negotiating arm remains strong, and that the organization can develop new rules that have a real-world impact not only …
Read More» The United States is delighted to welcome the distinguished delegation from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as the Secretariat of the EAC, to this third review of the trade policies and practices of the East African Community.
Read More» The United States recognizes the great strides made by several WTO Members since the establishment of the WTO in raising standards of living, increasing real income, and expanding production and trade – goals set out in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.
Read More» Ambassador Dennis Shea: “This negotiation is an opportunity for a large group of countries to work together to combat these digital trade barriers.”
Read More» Much has changed in Ecuador since its last TPR in November 2011, and the United States commends Ecuador for all that it has since achieved. Important steps have been taken by the government of Ecuador to integrate its economy into the global trading system.
Read More» “The United States recognizes the great strides made by several WTO Members since the establishment of the WTO in raising standards of living, increasing real income, and expanding production and trade – goals set out in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.”
Read More» “We appreciated the acknowledgement from so many that the United States maintains one of the most open economies in the world.”
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The United States places high value on the trade policy review process, which is important for promoting greater awareness and understanding of Members’ trade policies and practices.
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “The United States fully supports your ‘January-July 2019 Work Program’ and we agree with your assessment of the need to shift into a new mode of work when we return from the holiday break.”
Read More» Statements delivered by Ambassador Dennis Shea, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization.
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “The United States commends the Hong Kong Government for its commitment over the years to an open and free market economy.”
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “During its first TPR, Armenia was widely commended for its sectoral reforms and market-driven polices, which resulted in an improved business climate and economic growth.”
Read More» The United States is pleased to co-sponsor this agenda item and contribute to the discussion of “The Societal Value of IP in the New Economy – IP and New Business.”
Read More» We first would like to note that the United States is committed to maintaining strong engagement with the members of the Pacific Islands Forum as part of our Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Read More» Ambassador Shea: The United States stands ready to actively participate in these negotiations, and remains committed to working with you and other Members to advance a robust and meaningful outcome.
Read More» Ambassador Shea: “Mr. Chairman, one of the most critical issues facing the WTO membership is China’s failure to fully embrace the open, market-oriented policies on which this institution is founded.”
Read More» Today we are pleased to have the chance to review developments since the 2012 TPR and discuss Israel’s recent economic performance.
Read More» Given the importance of China to the future of the World Trade Organization (WTO), I believe that we should be frank and direct in discussing China’s role as a WTO Member and the nature of its trade policies and practices.
Read More» The United States’ trade relationship with Uruguay is strong, positive, and growing. In 2006, the United States and Uruguay signed a bilateral investment treaty; and in 2007, we signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
Read More» The United States and Norway enjoy a long tradition of friendly relations, based on shared values and principles, including a robust trade and investment relationship.
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As Colombia’s number one trading partner, the United States has a strong, positive, and growing commercial relationship with Colombia.
Read More» Both Guinea and Mauritania have faced challenges over the review period caused by the global decline in commodity prices earlier this decade, and Guinea also had to deal with the scourge of the Ebola epidemic.
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Statement by Ambassador Dennis Shea, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Permanent Representative to the WTO Geneva, May 29, 2018 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The United States welcomes Secretary General Cisse and Minister Hamdi Ould Mouknass and their respective delegations to this, Guinea’s fourth and Mauritania’s third WTO Trade Policy Review. We appreciate the Secretariat’s thorough …
Read More» Both Guinea and Mauritania have faced challenges over the review period caused by the global decline in commodity prices earlier this decade, and Guinea also had to deal with the scourge of the Ebola epidemic.
Read More» The United States appreciates the opportunity afforded by this agenda item to address concerns surrounding the functioning of the WTO’s dispute settlement system in general, and of the Appellate Body in particular.
Read More» Ambassador Dennis Shea: “I am committed to engaging with each of you in a constructive spirit that always aims to make the WTO better and more effective. I look forward to the friendships that will develop among us as we pursue that work.”
Read More» Montenegro has achieved many economic successes in recent years. Perhaps most importantly, is its accession to the WTO in 2012, and since then it has made many significant contributions to the WTO. Montenegro is, simply put, an outstanding “citizen” of this organization.
Read More» Thank you for organizing this session, which has helped put a human face on migration, reminding us that our work together is about much more than migration – it is about people and human experience.
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