Outcome of WTO Talks Critical

USB director gets a firsthand look at the negotiation process

The United Soybean Board (USB) has been keeping a keen eye on developments out of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. While negotiations remain stalled in the Doha Round, which launched nearly 10 years ago in an effort to reduce international trade barriers, some predict there is little chance of an agreement this year.

USB director, member of the Global Opportunities Committee and Kinmundy, Ill., soybean farmer Dwain Ford got a firsthand look at the negotiation process as he visited staff from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and others from various countries participating in the Doha Round earlier this year. Ford said soybean farmers, as well as all of U.S. agriculture, have a lot at stake in the pending outcome of the talks.

“We met with negotiators and ambassadors from eight different countries including Australia, China, Japan and New Zealand as well as U.S. trade ambassadors,” says Ford. “The soybean checkoff’s focus was primarily the need to move forward with the negotiations.”

The talks have been stymied over differences in specific trade areas related to agriculture and manufacturing.

At the WTO meeting in March, many optimistically looked to the U.S. and China for a solution to the impasse; however, the process stalled surrounding the lack of new market access for U.S. agricultural exports and other key differences.

“It is going to be extremely difficult and take a lot of work to get a resolution this year,” says Ford. “We still have concerns with the differential export tax with Argentina and global market access. Many people do not understand the importance of the WTO, but the outcome is critical to U.S. agriculture.”