ICC calls for swift conclusion of Doha roundICC calls for swift conclusion of Doha round

ICC calls for swift conclusion of Doha round

Marrakesh, 9 June 2004

Leaders of world business today urged all World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries to work hard to put the Doha Development Agenda back on track by July. The strongly worded message was sent during the close of the International Chamber of Commerce's 35^th World Congress, held in Marrakesh from June 6- 9, and follows months of lobbying by the ICC. ICC Secretary General Maria Livanos Cattaui said: "All negotiating parties have to make sure that the framework for Doha is in place for July. We realise the major responsibility is with the G8. It is sure that their leadership is going to make the difference." "In the last few months we have put forward our plea to the G8. We have sent out communications of all kinds. The G8 cannot be focused on security alone, but must discuss trade", Ms Cattaui said. At the congress, the ICC also issued a new policy statement urging WTO governments to make the Doha Development Agenda a high priority and overcome lost momentum since the September 2003 WTO conference in Cancºn, Mexico.

The Doha Agenda, which concentrates on rules-based multilateral trading systems established through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (GATT/WTO), was launched at the WTO's 4^th Ministerial Conference in November 2001 in Qatar. The Doha Agenda focuses on, inter alia, agriculture; tariffs and non-tariff barriers for non-agricultural products; investment, trade facilitation, and competition; electronic commerce, information technology, and telecommunications; and intellectual-property rights. "It is incumbent upon all WTO members - particularly in light of recently resurgent protectionist rhetoric - to ensure that a positive momentum is regained so that the Doha Development Agenda can be put back on track," the statement said. "The slower the progress of multilateral trade negotiations, the greater the temptation will be for countries to resort to bilateral and regional approaches." To view the full statement click here.

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Mary A. Kelly
Senior Communications Manager
Tel: (33) 6 09 01 11 32

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