Press Release

For Immediate Release April 11, 2006

Business Calls for Agreement on Doha Trade Talks by End of 2006

NEW YORK, N.Y., APRIL 11, 2006 -- The global business community continues to push for the successful completion of world trade negotiations by the end of 2006. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has reminded members of the World Trade Organization that time is running out, saying they must meet their deadlines in order to bring the Doha Round to an ambitious, comprehensive and balanced conclusion.

The latest exhortation accompanied the release of an updated set of global business objectives that ICC national committees are conveying to their governments. The ICC action supports similar statements by WTO Director General Pascal Lamy to keep negotiations on track, and it follows a high-level appeal by CEOs last November in the lead-up to the WTO's Hong Kong ministerial.

"A successful outcome to the Doha negotiations is vital to help raise global living standards, create jobs, and boost world economic growth," according to ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban. "An agreement will go a long way toward reinforcing the rules-based multilateral trading system, keeping in check protectionist instincts and safeguarding non-discriminatory trade."

The Paris-based ICC is the largest, most representative private-sector association in the world, with more than 8,000 member companies in over 140 countries. The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), based in New York, serves as its American national committee.

The statement had strong input and support from American business. "Time is running out," according to USCIB President Peter M. Robinson. "However, an ambitious, comprehensive and balanced result by year's end is an achievable goal, provided that governments demonstrate the political will to make the tough decisions and necessary compromises."

In its seven-page set of recommendations, ICC said high-level involvement by WTO member governments was crucial to make compromises and difficult decisions on opening markets. "The challenge is more political than technical," ICC said, calling upon WTO members to remember their responsibility as custodians of the multilateral trading system that has served the world economy so well.

ICC said the negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products were of central importance, and must include a substantial reduction in applied tariffs for all products, which will result in increased trade opportunities for all WTO members.

On agriculture, ICC called for substantial reductions in domestic support and improvement in market access for all products, even sensitive products, and for keeping particular treatment of such products to a minimum. The current barriers impose a heavy burden on consumers and taxpayers, especially in industrialized countries, and have a particularly injurious effect on the export opportunities of many developing countries.

ICC expressed concern over the slow pace of progress in negotiations to liberalize trade in services and urged WTO members to make binding commitments towards higher levels of liberalization on the broadest possible range of services, and to go beyond levels currently available through unilateral access. Among these recommendations, ICC noted the increasing need to move professional, technical and managerial personnel across national borders.

ICC said it was encouraged by the progress made to date in the Doha Round on trade facilitation, noting that developing countries and small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, would realize significant gains from more efficient customs procedures.

The world business body also expressed deep concern about the proliferation of preferential trade agreements and called for progress to clarify and improve WTO disciplines and procedures relating to such agreements.

"The most effective long-term solution to discriminatory trade preferences is to bring the current Doha Round to a successful conclusion by year-end, which will lead to a broad and substantial lowering of tariff and non-tariff barriers that will benefit all WTO members," said ICC's Mr. Sebban.

USCIB promotes an open system of global commerce. Its membership includes some 300 leading U.S. companies, professional services firms and associations whose combined annual revenues exceed $3 trillion. As American affiliate of the leading international business and employers organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade.

CONTACT:

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

ICC statement, "ICC recommendations for completing the Doha Round":
http://www.uscib.org/docs/icc_doha_statement_2006.pdf

November 2005 CEO letter:
http://www.iccwbo.org/iccejej/index.html

More on USCIB's Trade Policy Committee:
http://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=829

ICC website:
http://www.iccwbo.org/