Plugging 'Numbers' Into the DDA

World Trade Organization members must reach agreement on key agriculture "numbers" at this December's ministerial meeting in Hong Kong to move the talks into 2006, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy told reporters yesterday (WTD, 9/27/05).

Mr. Lamy made the comment to reporters after a meeting with members of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The Director General suggested those numbers should address all three pillars of the agriculture negotiations tariff cuts, reductions in domestic farm support programs and an "end-date" for elimination of agricultural export subsidies.

Mr. Lamy made the rounds on Capitol Hill yesterday, "bringing the message that Hong Kong is terribly important." He also met with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga) and had dinner Monday night with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

Making progress on agriculture now is key to concluding the Doha round by the end of next year, Mr. Lamy said. Ways and Means member Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich) told reporters that Mr. Lamy suggested negotiations need to follow a sequence