11/09/05 Is this the Doha Round deadline?

In the weeks since U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman made a daring proposal to jump start talks in the World Trade Organization's ag trade reform negotiations, those observing, and participating in, the Doha Round say there still is not an agreement in sight. In fact, some analysis say if the W.T.O. nations don't have the groundwork laid by the end of this week's latest prep meetings in Geneva Switzerland, then the chance of success in reaching an agreement when the W.T.O. holds its Hong Kong ministerial next month will be slim to none. Then again, for weeks even prior to the Portman proposal, the pundits were saying that whatever W.T.O. meeting or proposal at the time was the make or break point for the Doha Round. JOHANNS: Each week that's gone by we've said, this has got to be the week where we get some sort of framework together and we have been saying that for many weeks. We're running out of weeks before we go to Hong Kong. So the question needs to be asked to U.S.D.A. Secretary Mike Johanns, who is in Geneva along with Portman for the latest discussions. Is this week's meeting in Geneva in reality the do or die point? And that question comes in the context that the Hong Kong Ministerial is just a little more than one month away. JOHANNS: Do or die is really a strong statement but we're getting down to a point where if we don't get that framework done then the technical work won't be ready for Hong Kong. Now one thing past W.T.O. ministerials like the 2003 gathering in Cancun Mexico have demonstrated is that anything can and will happen, especially at the last minute. So does that mean there is a possibility that the framework for a W.T.O. ag trade reform deal can be hammered out during the Hong Kong ministerial itself? JOHANNS: It can still fall together but the days are very limited. We are running out of days before we get to Hong Kong. I'm optimistic we're going to be fighting for a good agreement, but there's a point at which you just wonder how much can we get done in Hong Kong if we don't have a framework to at least start with. In the meantime, Johanns says the U.S. will continue to fight for a good trade deal for our nation's farmers and ranchers based on their underlying theme of comments for fair trade at recent Farm Bill Forums like one recently hosted by Johanns in Cheney Washington. JOHANNS: We need to make sure that not only are we focused on trade but we get this playing field more level, get tariffs down so we get more access to markets, deal with the imbalance in terms of the subsidy programs around the world. And Johanns reiterated the U.S. has made its best offer at W.T.O. with the Portman deal, and it is now up to member nations like the European Union and the group of developing nations to give ground on their end.