WTO Negotiations Under Way, NCGA Continues Market Access Message (6-28-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today maintained its position that the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations must produce the market access provisions proposed by the United States in October 2005.
 
“We understand the negotiations are becoming more difficult in regard to agriculture issues such as market access,” said Leon Corzine, NCGA chairman. “Corn growers maintain the position that we will not support deeper cuts than what was previously proposed by the United States. The European Union and other trade ministers must understand that expanded market access is key to our industry and whether we will support or oppose approval of a Doha round agreement by the U.S. Congress.”

Trade ministers are meeting this week in Geneva in another effort to finalize the Doha Round of the WTO talks. According to Alejandro Jara, WTO deputy director-general, the first section of agriculture issues to be discussed will be market access, tariff-reduction formulas, sensitive products, special products and special safeguard mechanism. The second part of the discussions will focus on domestic support, overall cuts, blue box definitions and base period. Jara noted the issue of export competition may not be discussed this week.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab recently stated the WTO would need to improve the market access proposals and that Congress would not agree to support concession beyond the U.S. proposal.  Her statement was echoed by congressional leaders and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. In the past Schwab said the agriculture negotiations of the Doha Round is conditional and could be improved or scaled back depending on trading partners’ willingness to make new concessions on market access.

Last week, NCGA and other commodity groups met with Schwab to discuss the agriculture negotiations. NCGA reiterated corn growers do not support additional amber box cuts and believes current market access proposals on the table are not acceptable.