Ministers to Meet in Geneva for More WTO Talks (7-21-06)

Officials from the G-6—the United States, European Union, Japan, Brazil, India and Australia—will meet in Geneva July 23-24 and again July 28-29 to attempt to salvage the stalled World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes.

After receiving instructions from the presidents of the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany and Japan in St. Petersburg, Russia, last week to get a deal finalized, ministers from the G-6 decided to have a conference in Geneva next week to attempt to hammer out a deal.

It is important that a deal is struck by the end of this year, said Bob Bowman, chairman of NCGA’s Joint Trade Policy A-Team.

“It is important that the ministers agree on a deal soon because President Bush’s trade promotion authority expires in 2007,” he said. “It was good to hear the news from the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg that the presidents are fully behind reaching an agreement.”

In an interview on Tuesday, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said, “President Bush has indicated the U.S. will be more flexible on domestic support when we see more flexibility on market access from our trading partners."

Negotiators have struggled to find consensus on key issues of cuts in subsidies, market access and country-specific products. Bowman said it is imperative the United States settles for nothing less than increased market access to other WTO partners.

“We’re eternally optimistic,” Bowman said. “It’s a positive that we are at least still talking with the other nations. We hope a decision is made and that it is one that does not settle for anything less of increased market access for American farmers."