| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Eric Thomas |
| Oct. 25, 2005 |
(202) 822-9491 |
USTR Portman Endorses Business Initiative
at Launch Event
Washington, D.C. - The American Business Coalition for Doha
(ABCDoha) formally launched today at a press briefing attended
by U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and leaders of the
U.S. business community. ABCDoha represents a broad cross-section
of major U.S. trade associations, large and small businesses,
and agriculture groups all dedicated to achieving an ambitious,
balanced, and comprehensive outcome to the Doha Round in 2006.
"The formation today of ABCDoha further exemplifies the
extraordinarily strong support across the American business
community for a successful WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong and
an ambitious and comprehensive outcome of the Doha Development
Agenda negotiations," said Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President
and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies. "With the full participation
of WTO members and bold steps forward, these negotiations
have the unique potential to spur major gains in economic
growth, creating new opportunities and a higher standard of
living. The American business community will work vigorously
in furtherance of a commercially meaningful outcome of these
negotiations."
"U.S. leadership under Ambassador Portman has been instrumental
in breaking the Doha deadlock on agricultural negotiations,"
stated Cargill, Incorporated CEO, Warren Staley. "All nations
must be ready to make the tough decisions on market access
necessary to move the Doha Round negotiations ahead. Opening
markets to increased trade and investment is a necessary step
for economic development. We applaud all countries that are
focused on reducing market access barriers, as this will stimulate
longer-term growth across the globe."
ABCDoha announced its plans to work with the U.S. Administration
and Congress, the WTO leadership, officials and colleagues
in other WTO member countries, and other NGOs to push for
a successful Hong Kong Ministerial in December, and a successful
conclusion of the Doha Round by the end of 2006.
"As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
has a vital interest in the expansion of the international
flow of goods, agricultural products, retail services and
financial capital. So I commend the U.S. government for taking
an ambitious approach to lowering trade barriers through the
WTO talks. Today's launch of the ABC Doha Coalition reflects
the American business community's support of that endeavor,"
stated Lee Scott, CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Negotiations under the Doha Round are reaching a critical
juncture as they enter their final phase prior to the Hong
Kong Ministerial. The World Bank estimates that elimination
of global trade barriers would enhance global economic welfare
by $290 billion by 2015. ABCDoha believes the Doha Round represents
a critical opportunity to bring the trading system into the
21st century and secure future economic growth of the U.S.
and global economy.
"Our trade negotiators should push for an ambitious trade
agreement - one that eliminates both tariffs and nontariff
barriers on all information technology products - so that
people all over the world can have unfettered access to them,"
said Antonio M. Perez, Chief Executive Officer and President,
Eastman Kodak Company. "This new business coalition will work
to promote an agreement that will do the most good for the
most people."
"Today we are renewing our collective commitment to achieve
the best result possible from this historic and once-in-a-generation
opportunity presented by the Doha Round. We must ensure it
lives up to its full potential, as America and indeed all
countries gain from an open, transparent and rules-based worldwide
trading system," concluded William C. Weldon Chairman and
CEO, Johnson & Johnson.
ABCDoha Website Launched
ABCDoha also announced the launch of its new website www.ABCDoha.org
- which is being designed to serve as a one-stop source of
information on the Doha negotiations. The site includes issue
briefs on the major negotiating areas: Agriculture, Non Agriculture
Market Access, Services and Trade Facilitation, and will feature
up-to-date news and information about the Doha Round, useful
links, and other background information.
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