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WTO Releases Panel Report on Cotton Dispute

The WTO issued the report of the panel that had examined Brazil's complaint against the United States regarding subsidies on upland cotton.  (09/08/04)
  --  From the Office of the United States Trade Representative - 'United States Successfully Defends Decoupled Payments from "Serious Prejudice" Claims '

USDA Secretary Veneman Praises U.S. Negotiating Team on the
World Trade Organization Trade Accord

Negotiators in Geneva were able to reach agreement on a framework that will enable the Doha Round talks to proceed to a conclusion. (08/01/04)
-- From USTR (all .PDF | require Adobe Acrobat Reader)
-- Press Release (08/01/04) -- Press Conference Statement (08/01/04)
-- Fact Sheet (07/31/04) -- Agreement: Final Text (07/31/04)

The WTO

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an independent international organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland that sets and maintains the rules of global trade . Representatives from over 145 member countries use the WTO framework to negotiate trade agreements, adjudicate trade disputes and review national trade policies. By having a standard set of consistent and enforceable ground rules, international trade can prosper without facing barriers such as excessive tariffs, unfair regulations and other obstacles. Countries participating in this freer global trade environment help expand the world economy and increase their own citizens’ level of prosperity.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has a brief description of the various functions of the WTO.

The WTO and U.S. Agriculture

Year after year, America’s agricultural producers consistently produce high-quality, competitively priced agricultural products. In 2002 alone, the U.S. exported over $50 billion of agricultural products, producing hundreds of thousands of jobs of good-paying jobs throughout rural and urban America.

As impressive as this trade sounds, it could be expanded if many of the trade barriers that have been eliminated for other goods under the WTO are also eliminated for agriculture.

Trade Is Important to U.S. Agriculture World Trade Organization and Agriculture: Fact Sheet State Fact Sheets

Charts Exports Are Vital to American Farmers Export Subsidies Many U.S. Agricultural Products Depend on Overseas Markets Tariffs Trade-distorting Domestic Support

Current Negotiations: The Doha Round and Beyond

Until a few years ago, the WTO and its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), have focused mostly on manufactured goods. After the 2001 round of negotiations in Doha, Qatar, WTO members agreed to begin talks to lower tariffs and other barriers to free and fair agricultural trade. The United States believes this is a historic opportunity to not only help its farmers, ranchers and growers export more, but to improve the lives of producers and consumers in the developing world and around the globe. The United States has therefore forwarded a bold proposal for WTO agricultural negotiations.

The U.S. WTO Agricultural Proposal (Summary)	A New Vision for Global Agriculture
Supportive Statements on the U.S. Proposal	Negotiating Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions	U.S. WTO Proposal on Export Credits  (.pdf)(12/02) - Fact Sheet
Market Access: The Swiss 25 Formula in Action	Domestic Support: The 5-Percent Rule
Background on the current round of WTO negotiations	US Trade Representative Calls for Energizing Global Trade Talks (01/12/04)

The Harbinson Draft

As part of the timeframe for agricultural negotiations outlined in the Doha negotiations, the chairman of the WTO committee on agricultural negotiations, Ambassador Stewart Harbinson of Hong Kong, produced a document that aimed to bridge the gaps in the negotiation positions of various countries.

Chairman Harbinson's REVISED First Draft

Joint Comment on the Doha Development Agenda Negotiations (03/31/03)

Fifth WTO Ministerial in Cancún, Mexico (September 2003)

The Cancún Ministerial, the latest meeting of the World Trade Organization, concluded on September 14 without consensus. (For the U.S. response, see Op-Ed by U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick: "America Will Not Wait for the Won't-Do Countries," Financial Times [09/22/03])