Urges WTO Members to Adopt the Revised Framework Package
Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) issued the following statement on the revised WTO framework package on the Doha Development Agenda:
“The National Foreign Trade Council and its members urge WTO members to agree to the revised framework package released this morning in Geneva. Moving forward with the text is vital to achieving concrete progress on the Doha Round. It will allow the negotiations to evolve to the next level of detail and build momentum for a successful and timely conclusion to the trade talks. It is clear from the ambiguity of some elements of the text that important and difficult decisions have been deferred, but agreement on the text will nonetheless demonstrate the commitment of WTO members to advancing multilateral trade liberalization and a rules-based trading regime that generates growth and opportunity for all its members.
The NFTC attaches great importance to the emerging agreement on a framework for the agriculture negotiations that will allow the negotiation of a final outcome in the Round that is both comprehensive and ambitious. On non-agricultural market access, the NFTC recognizes that difficult negotiations lie ahead but is nevertheless pleased that the text keeps the prospect of a substantial result in view. We are also pleased that the core issue of services is given its due recognition in the text. On trade facilitation, the NFTC welcomes the decision to initiate negotiations in an area so important to economic growth.
Since the launch of the Doha Round, the NFTC has urged WTO member governments to seize hold of the enormous economic promise of this latest round of multilateral trade negotiations by aiming for ambitious results across-the-board. We firmly believe this objective is ultimately the best win-win outcome for developing and developed countries and for ensuring the WTO remains a solid institution in tune with the realities of today’s global marketplace. We look forward to supporting that objective in the coming weeks and months as the negotiations move to the next stage.”
The National Foreign Trade Council (
www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves 300 member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.