November 15, 2001
Contact:
Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030
MEMPHIS – National Cotton Council Chairman James Echols said the U.S. cotton industry was glad the U.S. delegation was successful in launching a new round of WTO trade negotiations at their meeting in Doha, Quatar.
"After the problems that surfaced in Seattle, our negotiators faced a difficult task in establishing and agenda and getting a new round of negotiations launched," Echols said. "The goals set out in the declaration - improving market access; reducing export subsidies; and reducing trade-distorting subsidies - if achieved, will enhance the export opportunities for U.S. cotton, cottonseed and cotton products around the world. Ambassador Zoellick and Agriculture Secretary Veneman are to be congratulated for their work on agricultural trade negotiations in Doha."
Despite the success in establishing a workable agenda in agriculture, Echols voiced concern about some aspects of the declaration pertaining to trade in manufactured goods.
"The declaration contains language on market access for manufactured goods that suggests that developing countries will not have to make the same type of tariff concessions that the United States will be asked to deliver," he said. "The document also commits the United States to more negotiations that will challenge U.S. countervailing and antidumping laws. The National Cotton Council believes strongly in reciprocal market access, requiring other countries open their markets to the same extent the U.S. market is opened. This is particularly important with respect to trade in textiles and apparel. We hope that our negotiators will insist on full reciprocity in market access in these negotiations. We also view negatively any proposals that will undermine the effectiveness of U.S. laws designed to respond to unfair trade practices."
Echols said the U.S. cotton industry is gratified to note that the U.S. fought changes in textile agreements that were advocated by India and Pakistan.
"These changes would have harmed the U.S. textile industry and caused a new flood of textile imports, almost certainly causing a new round of bankruptcies and layoffs in the textile industry," Echols said. "These countries will continue to push their proposals. We encourage the U.S. government to continue its steadfast opposition to harmful changes in these agreements."
"After the problems that surfaced in Seattle, our negotiators faced a difficult task in establishing and agenda and getting a new round of negotiations launched," Echols said. "The goals set out in the declaration - improving market access; reducing export subsidies; and reducing trade-distorting subsidies - if achieved, will enhance the export opportunities for U.S. cotton, cottonseed and cotton products around the world. Ambassador Zoellick and Agriculture Secretary Veneman are to be congratulated for their work on agricultural trade negotiations in Doha."
Despite the success in establishing a workable agenda in agriculture, Echols voiced concern about some aspects of the declaration pertaining to trade in manufactured goods.
"The declaration contains language on market access for manufactured goods that suggests that developing countries will not have to make the same type of tariff concessions that the United States will be asked to deliver," he said. "The document also commits the United States to more negotiations that will challenge U.S. countervailing and antidumping laws. The National Cotton Council believes strongly in reciprocal market access, requiring other countries open their markets to the same extent the U.S. market is opened. This is particularly important with respect to trade in textiles and apparel. We hope that our negotiators will insist on full reciprocity in market access in these negotiations. We also view negatively any proposals that will undermine the effectiveness of U.S. laws designed to respond to unfair trade practices."
Echols said the U.S. cotton industry is gratified to note that the U.S. fought changes in textile agreements that were advocated by India and Pakistan.
"These changes would have harmed the U.S. textile industry and caused a new flood of textile imports, almost certainly causing a new round of bankruptcies and layoffs in the textile industry," Echols said. "These countries will continue to push their proposals. We encourage the U.S. government to continue its steadfast opposition to harmful changes in these agreements."
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