Press Release

For Immediate Release March 7, 2006

Contact: Eric Thomas The Fratelli Group 202-822-9491

ABCDoha Urges G-6 Ministers to Find Solutions In Doha Negotiations

Business Community Sees Opportunity for Progress in London when "G-6" Trade Ministers Meet March 10-11

Washington, D.C. - The American Business Coalition for Doha (ABCDoha) today called upon the ministers of Brazil, India, the European Union, Japan, Australia, and the United States-the G-6 countries-to set their sights on producing concrete ideas for how to break the twin stalemates on market access for agricultural and manufactured products if WTO members are to meet their agreed deadline of April 30 for tariff-cutting formulas.

"Time is running out on Doha. Every opportunity to advance the talks is critical," said Scott Miller, Director for National Government Relations for Procter & Gamble.

ABCDoha emphasized that ministers meeting in London this week must do more than simply take stock. "The credibility of these deadlines as providing real impetus for concluding the round in 2006 is at stake," concluded Miller.

The American business community believes if the G-6 countries lead, others will join their initiative. Brazil and India are key to ensuring broad and robust participation by developing countries in the negotiations and ABCDoha welcomes their constructive engagement in these meetings.

ABCDoha also today urged the European Union to take a step forward on agriculture, a move the coalition sees as necessary to generate momentum in the broader negotiations.

ABCDoha believes this round represents a critical opportunity to modernize the trading system and to promote vigorous and dynamic growth of the U.S. and global economy. The World Bank estimates that elimination of global trade barriers would enhance global economic welfare by $290 billion by 2015.

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The American Business Coalition for Doha (ABCDoha) is an umbrella group representing the diverse interests of service-providers, manufacturers, agriculture, customs facilitators, and many other stakeholders all dedicated to achieving an ambitious result from the Doha Round in 2006.