Industries Endorse USTR's commitment to Doha Round.

Press Release Summary:



National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President for International Economic Affairs, Frank Vargo, released a letter to US Trade Representative Ambassador, Ron Kirk, signed by 2 dozen industry trade associations. Vargo expressed that NAM and other industry associations are appreciative of the Administration's view that the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round must result in an ambitious and balanced outcome with meaningful market access gains for all WTO members.



Original Press Release:



Industries Endorse USTR's Commitment to DOHA



Two Dozen Industries Call for "Highest Level of Ambition"

WASHINGTON, D.C. May 18, 2008 -- In response to today's remarks by U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President for International Economic Affairs Frank Vargo released a letter to Kirk signed by two dozen industry trade associations, and issued the following commentary:

The NAM and other industry associations are very appreciative of the Administration's view that the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round must result in an ambitious and balanced outcome with meaningful market access gains for all WTO members - including the United States. The directions the negotiations have been taking have not led to a conclusion and indeed have not narrowed some of the most critical differences - such as the degree to which advanced developing countries need to provide market access gains that will actually generate new trade flows.

The advanced developing countries account for two-thirds of the tariffs assessed on U.S. exports of manufactured goods globally, so the market access we seek is not possible without their ambitious participation. This is also the way the Doha Round will contribute to the least developed countries -the WTO has estimated that most of the tariffs on their products are paid to that same group of advanced developing countries. Brazil, China, and India, are particularly key.

Ambassador Kirk's remarks today are welcomed not only by the NAM, but also by the two dozen other industry associations that have written to him regarding the imbalance in the Doha Round negotiations and to urge the highest levels of ambition and balance These associations represent the broad sweep of American manufacturing and show the breadth of interest in a meaningful Doha outcome.

The Doha Round is a reciprocal trade negotiation, not a donor's conference, the letter to Kirk points out. While less than full reciprocity certainly can be expected from the less developed countries, a high degree of reciprocity must be expected from the advanced developing countries that are now major exporters of manufactured goods.

The text of the associations' letter to U.S. Trade Representative Kirk is at: http://nam.org/IEAP/IndustryLetterAmbKirk.pdf

The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation's largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the NAM has 11 additional offices across the country. Visit the NAM's web site at www.nam.org for more information about manufacturing and the economy.

CONTACTS:
HANK COX (202) 637-3090

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