Is the U.S. ready to deal on agricultural production subsidies in the Doha Round?
The big opportunities in the Doha Round agricultural negotiations lie in tariff reform. (Doha Agricultural Negotiations ) But an awful lot of attention is directed to U.S. production subsidies, and EU export subsidies.
Barry Wilson reports the U.S. is coming back to the table after the August hiatus, ready to negotiate: US to make move at WTO?
The United States is signalling that it is preparing to bargain at World Trade Organization talks because the Bush administration wants a subsidy-cutting WTO deal before domestic negotiations start over the next farm bill.
Canadian agriculture minister Andy Mitchell said in an Aug. 22 interview that this was one of the messages coming out of a high-level political meeting in Australia last weekend.
"Secretary (Mike) Johanns talked about the need to get a WTO deal in advance of work on the next farm bill, which really is '06," said Mitchell.
And that means an American willingness to commit to significant cuts in domestic support, said the Canadian minister....
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