Though President Obama has not made an official statement on resuming the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Trade talks, Pascal Lamy, the WTO Director General makes that assumption based on his observations of Obama at the recent G20 meeting in London, the American Cotton Shippers Association’s April 14 Washington Report says.
“My sense is that the overall stance of the U.S. is the right one. We are not there yet and I understand the U.S. needs some time to weigh up what is on the table,” Lamy told the Reuters News Agency. “But I must say that the U.S. president was extremely engaged on this issue.”
Lamy said the so-called “modalities” of a deal to open world trade, the precursor to a full agreement, were “doable” before the end of the year. He did not rule out calling a ministerial meeting before the European summer break. “I will do this as soon as I make a judgment that having ministers around the table is what we need to move forward. I am not saying when it will take place … but the sooner the better.”