Tough Decisions and a New Commitment to Progress Must Be Outcome of Ministerial
Washington DC – On the eve of the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial meetings, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today called on all WTO member countries to come to Hong Kong ready to make real progress on the ongoing Doha Round negotiations.
“All WTO Members urgently need to demonstrate the political will to make the difficult decisions necessary to put the negotiations back on track for completion in 2006,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “NFTC has consistently urged an ambitious outcome to the Doha Round, centered around high levels of market access in industrial goods, services and agriculture. This outcome will ensure support among all WTO members and provide the necessary momentum needed to pass the Agreement in Congress.”
According to NFTC, the primary goals of the Hong Kong Ministerial must be for ministers to agree to pursue a balanced and ambitious framework for negotiations in 2006, with a set timetable for results.
“The clock is ticking on Doha, as negotiations must be wrapped up by the end of 2006. There is too much at stake for worldwide economic growth to allow for the negotiations to remain at an impasse,” he continued.
“We congratulate USTR and Ambassador Portman for taking a strong leadership role in the negotiations. NFTC stands ready to continue to work with all Ministers to help achieve a successful outcome in Hong Kong,” Reinsch concluded.
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 hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
