Interviews
Doha talks result may prove unfair for local textiles - NCC
21 Jun '07
3 min read
The National Cotton Council says the World Trade Organization's Doha Round negotiations are headed down a path that will “practically ensure an inequitable and unfair outcome for the U.S. cotton industry.”
In a letter sent today from NCC President/CEO Mark Lange to U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, the NCC conveyed the industry's concerns with the direction of agricultural negotiations and noted four specific items that will necessarily determine whether the Doha Round helps or seriously harms U.S. cotton producers.
“We sent this letter because the National Cotton Council believes the U.S. should have a well-defined position for dealing with attempts by others to overstep the Doha negotiations in agriculture,” Lange said.
“The agricultural negotiations appear to be taking a track that leads to far more specificity in policy provisions than is desirable. Not only do the negotiations appear to be further increasing the reduction in support beyond the U.S. proposal but are adding ill-conceived commodity specific caps.”
The first area of concern noted in the letter involves the West African C-4 cotton proposal, which would require additional commitments from cotton.
“We have provided a great deal of information demonstrating clearly that eliminating U.S. cotton subsidies will not provide a solution for the economic plight of West African cotton producers,” the letter stated.
“Similar evidence has been presented to the C-4 by disinterested third parties. This evidence has failed to move this debate onto a different, productive path.”
In a letter sent today from NCC President/CEO Mark Lange to U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, the NCC conveyed the industry's concerns with the direction of agricultural negotiations and noted four specific items that will necessarily determine whether the Doha Round helps or seriously harms U.S. cotton producers.
“We sent this letter because the National Cotton Council believes the U.S. should have a well-defined position for dealing with attempts by others to overstep the Doha negotiations in agriculture,” Lange said.
“The agricultural negotiations appear to be taking a track that leads to far more specificity in policy provisions than is desirable. Not only do the negotiations appear to be further increasing the reduction in support beyond the U.S. proposal but are adding ill-conceived commodity specific caps.”
The first area of concern noted in the letter involves the West African C-4 cotton proposal, which would require additional commitments from cotton.
“We have provided a great deal of information demonstrating clearly that eliminating U.S. cotton subsidies will not provide a solution for the economic plight of West African cotton producers,” the letter stated.
“Similar evidence has been presented to the C-4 by disinterested third parties. This evidence has failed to move this debate onto a different, productive path.”
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