Press Release

For Immediate Release October 25, 2005

Contact: Jonathan Huneke, USCIB (212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

U.S. Industry Groups Join Forces in Support of Doha Round

Business coalition to urge swift conclusion of a broad, market-opening agreement in the World Trade Organization

New York, N.Y., October 25, 2005 - A broad coalition of business groups today announced the launch of a new private-sector effort to press for the swift completion of multilateral trade talks in the World Trade Organization.

Unveiled today at a press briefing in Washington, D.C., the American Business Coalition for Doha (ABC Doha) will seek to raise support for a comprehensive agreement in the WTO's Doha Round of trade negotiations, which is scheduled to conclude next year but which has reached a deadlock over agriculture and other issues.

Among those speaking at today's briefing were U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and the heads of the Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers. USCIB is also taking part in the coalition's efforts.

Participants praised the recent U.S. proposal to curb trade-distorting agricultural policies as part of the Doha Round, saying it helped point the way toward a broad, market-opening agreement with substantial benefits for U.S. firms.

"We will use our strong connections to global business groups to build international private-sector support for key goals in the Doha Round," said Timothy E. Deal, USCIB's senior vice president and chief Washington representative. "First and foremost right now is to press the European Union to step forward and match the U.S. proposal with something that can ensure negotiations won't fall apart in Hong Kong."

WTO members are slated to meet at the ministerial level in Hong Kong this December to lay out the final phase of the Doha Round negotiations. Many observers have said that failure to reach agreement in Hong Kong on the modalities for finishing the talks would essentially deal a mortal blow to the Doha Round.

USCIB promotes an open system of global commerce in which business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare and protection of the environment. Its membership includes some 300 U.S. companies, professional service firms and associations whose combined annual revenues exceed $3 trillion. As American affiliate of the leading international business and employers organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade. More information is available at www.uscib.org.

# # #