Chinese Ambassador to WTO: Doha Round Talks Requires More Political Will

The long-stalled Doha Round of talks have made a breakthrough as senior officials from major WTO members this week managed to map out a detailed plan for the trade negotiations in the next few months. But trade officials say more political will is needed to push forward the talks. Chen Zhe has moreKey WTO members including the United States, European Union and China agreed in an informal meeting in Geneva this week on a work plan aimed at pushing forward the Doha Round Talks.

The plan mainly covers the next three months, during which WTO negotiators need to make progress on agricultural and industrial tariff cuts, farm subsidies as well as trade in services so that the overall talks could be concluded next year.

The Doha talks had been restricted to low-level contacts since a failed ministerial meeting in July 2008.

Sun Zhenyu, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the WTO, attended the two-day meeting.

He says despite recent positive signs, issues involving farm tariffs and subsidies as well as industrial market access are still hindering the process of the talks. He says the attitude of the United States is considered crucial for any real breakthrough.

"After the Obama Administration came into power, they reviewed the agreements reached in the previous Doha talks. The US thinks the current two 'Chairperson's documents' on agricultural and non-agricultural market go against US interests.

Meanwhile, Obama has not put trade in an important place. At present, he is trying to solve problems such as healthcare reform, climate change, the financial crisis first."

He adds that the world economic slowdown also makes it harder for the US to make concessions in the Doha Round which aims for further trade openings.

"The global financial crisis has brought unemployment pressure to many countries including the US. The US takes a passive attitude towards the Doha Round because the negotiations neither brought much benefit to US exporters, nor helped the country create more job opportunities. "

The ambassador says all the WTO members should realize the importance of trade in reviving the economy and making concessions.

The Doha Round talks, which started from 2001, aims to increase world trade through a broad compromise that would let developing countries sell more produce to the rich world. In return, the U.S, E.U and Japan would get new chances for their manufacturers and service providers to enter the emerging markets of Brazil, China and India.

Chen Zhe, CRI News