[WTO Talks Doha Round] Bush: 'Tough Sledding' for Poverty Talks

from The Washington Post

By DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON -- President Bush, trying to jump start global trade negotiations, urged European and developing nations Thursday to make tough decisions to finish a trade deal that he claims will curb poverty.

The United States is among 149 nations trying to finish the international round of trade talks known as the Doha Round. Negotiators have missed several deadlines.

"It's tough sledding right now," Bush said at the Initiative for Global Development's national summit focused on getting the public and private sectors to work together to end poverty across the world.

There are disagreements over cutting farm barriers in Europe, the United States and other rich nations. Major developing countries, such as India and Brazil, also are refusing to significantly reduce trade barriers that protect their manufacturing and service industries.

"We're ready to eliminate all tariffs and subsidies and other barriers to free flow of goods and services, and we expect other nations to do the same," Bush said.

He said countries in Europe have to make a tough decision on farming, and the G20 group of developing countries that is pushing for increased access to industrialized markets for their farmers have to make difficult decisions on manufacturing.

Bush said he planned to carry that message to next week's European Union summit.

"Now is the time for the world to come together and make this world a free trading world, not only for the benefit of our own economies, but as an important part of the strategy to reduce poverty around the world," the president said.

Bush spoke after attending a ceremonial swearing-in at the White House of the new U.S. trade representative, Susan Schwab, who is working to wrap up key elements of a deal by the end of July.

Former Secretary of States Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright co-chaired the summit, which was attended by some of the nation's top business leaders, philanthropists, policy experts, government officials and civic leaders.

"Americans have got to understand that when we talk about trade, we're not only talking about enhancing economic growth and vitality, we're helping people get out of poverty," Bush said, adding that impoverished states are attractive safe havens for terrorists and tyrants and international criminals.

The Initiative for Global Development was founded in 2003 by former Sen. Daniel Evans of Washington; Bill Gates Sr., father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates; Bill Ruckelshaus, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; Bill Clapp, chief executive officer of Global Partnerships; and Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.