·
Ambassador
Allen Johnson , the U.S. chief agricultural negotiator from
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, told members
of the Uruguayan media Tuesday (Feb. 10) that the U.S. wants
to move forward in 2004 in negotiations in the World Trade
Organization and is seeking support from all WTO members.
“As the U.S. is committed to the reform
of agriculture in the WTO, we know we can’t do it
by ourselves,” Johnson said during a press conference
held at the U.S. Embassy, Montevideo. “It requires
the contribution of all members of the WTO in order for
it to succeed and through that, countries like Uruguay,
the United States and others can see expanded market opportunities
and a world marketplace less filled with distortions.”
Johnson is touring South America while US
Trade Representative Robert Zoellick visits other capitals
and key cities around the world to discuss how to make progress
in 2004. The goal is to reduce trade barriers to expand
global economic growth development and opportunity, Johnson
said. He added that the information collected during this
tour would be used in the Cairns Group meeting of agricultural
exporting countries scheduled for late February in Costa
Rica.
Johnson told the media that Zoellick wrote
to all 146 of his WTO ministerial colleagues sharing his
assessment of the state of negotiations and how all WTO
members might work together. He also shared a copy of the
letter with media representatives.
“My main objective is to see how countries
are thinking after receiving that letter, how we can help
move the WTO forward as a system and how countries can help
themselves in that process,” Johnson said. “Uruguay
has always been a very responsible contributor to that process
and we want to make sure that they get their thoughts in
as we attempt to move the WTO forward.”
During his three days in Montevideo, Johnson
was scheduled to meet with Martin Aguirrezabala, Uruguay’s
minister of livestock, agriculture and fisheries; Richard
Seizer, president of the chamber of Commerce and Export
of Agriproducts and Agroindustrial Products; and Guillermo
Valles, Acting Foreign Minister on issues of agriculture
and trade affecting Uruguay.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
(USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S.
international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy
and leading or directing negotiations with other countries
on such matters.
Full
text of U.S. Trade Representative Zoellick's letter
USTR
web site
