04/17/06 Do or die time for Doha

Farm and Ranch April 17, 2006 The next two weeks may decide the success or failure of the Doha Round of World Trade Organization talks. That's what U.S. Chief Ag Trade Negotiator Richard Crowder says. April 30th is the deadline for specific negotiating targets on agriculture and Crowder says that deadline looks tougher and tougher to meet. Crowder: "We are very concerned about the April 30th deadline in terms of having full modalities. I think that gives you an assessment of the odds because it is either going to happen or not happen. But we are concerned about that." Speaking last week, Crowder said this week, when top trade officials from the WTO member-nations gather in Geneva, may be the breaking point for the Doha Round. Crowder: "We will be there all week and I think whether it is advisable for ministers to come to Geneva after that depends a lot on what comes out of this week. I don't want to pre-judge because we are going to get as much done as we can." U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns puts the odds of Doha success at 50-50. Johanns: "I think it is a toss-up. It could go either way. We are going to work hard. We are going to stay optimistic. We believe we can get a successful round. .But I try to deal straight up and honest with people and today I think it is a coin toss." What does or doesn't happen during the Doha Round could shape the next U.S. farm bill. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.