Max Baucus: “I send a concurrent resolution establishing U.S. goals for the next round of global negotiations in the World Trade…”

“I send a concurrent resolution establishing U.S. goals for the next round of global negotiations in the World Trade Organization to the desk. In 1994, seven hard years of talks culminated the Uruguay Round Agreement creating the WTO. The United States can point with pride to the results of American leadership on trade. Among the agreement's notable results were beginning new countries into the rule-based trade regime; establishing an institution for ongoing trade talks and dispute resolution; and addressing some key issues for the first time. The 1994 WTO agreement left unfinished business in two of these key issues: agriculture and services. WTO members committed to return to the table in January 2000 to address barriers in these sectors, the so-called 'built-in agenda.' It will be a major challenge. Trade-distorting domestic agricultural programs are politically sensitive, especially in the European Union, the world's biggest offender in this area. In services, efforts to open up trade run into difficult questions of domestic regulation and investment. Over the past several months, Mr. President, WTO members have submitted proposals for dealing with agriculture, services, and many other issues in a new global round of negotiations, to be launched in Seattle this November when the United States hosts the third WTO Ministerial Meeting.”