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Barroso to raise trade, climate change on US trip
08 Jan '07
2 min read
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso is in Washington on 8th January to discuss the Doha world trade talks and climate change - but analysts and officials doubt his trip will bring a breakthrough on either topic.
"The moment of truth for the Doha trade negotiations is fast approaching and the US holds the key to making a deal possible in 2007," Mr Barroso said in a statement ahead of his visit. "The alternative, a delay of several years, would come at a high price for all."
He was referring to the end-June deadline when US legislation - which allows the White House to negotiate trade deals that cannot be changed by Congress - expires. Commentators expect the new Democrat-led Congress will not agree to renew the Republican president George W. Bush's trade mandate.
The world trade talks that began in Doha, Qatar, in 2001, with the aim of relaxing global trade restrictions, have been frozen since last July with all parties insisting they want more concessions, especially on farm subsidies.
The Doha trade negotiations also featured high on the agenda when German chancellor Angela Merkel and George W. Bush met in the White House last Thursday.
"We're committed to the Doha round," president Bush said at a press conference after the meeting, adding "I believe we can get a deal done. It's just going to take a lot of will and a lot of hard work to do it."
But a spokeswoman for the US trade representative's office inWashington downplayed expectations for Monday's meeting with Mr Barroso, telling Reuters that "We're not expecting any breakthroughs."
Europe and the United States are the biggest players in the trade talks and have both faced criticism for protectionist measures in agriculture. The two powers represent 40 percent of world trade.
Click here to read more:
"The moment of truth for the Doha trade negotiations is fast approaching and the US holds the key to making a deal possible in 2007," Mr Barroso said in a statement ahead of his visit. "The alternative, a delay of several years, would come at a high price for all."
He was referring to the end-June deadline when US legislation - which allows the White House to negotiate trade deals that cannot be changed by Congress - expires. Commentators expect the new Democrat-led Congress will not agree to renew the Republican president George W. Bush's trade mandate.
The world trade talks that began in Doha, Qatar, in 2001, with the aim of relaxing global trade restrictions, have been frozen since last July with all parties insisting they want more concessions, especially on farm subsidies.
The Doha trade negotiations also featured high on the agenda when German chancellor Angela Merkel and George W. Bush met in the White House last Thursday.
"We're committed to the Doha round," president Bush said at a press conference after the meeting, adding "I believe we can get a deal done. It's just going to take a lot of will and a lot of hard work to do it."
But a spokeswoman for the US trade representative's office inWashington downplayed expectations for Monday's meeting with Mr Barroso, telling Reuters that "We're not expecting any breakthroughs."
Europe and the United States are the biggest players in the trade talks and have both faced criticism for protectionist measures in agriculture. The two powers represent 40 percent of world trade.
Click here to read more:
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