Express industry praises Zoellick for pressing WTO negotiations

Express industry praises Zoellick for pressing WTO negotiations    The giants of the express carrier industry praised U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick for his recent efforts to rekindle negotiations for global trade liberalization.
   In a letter to more than 140 World Trade Organization member countries, Zoellick asked ministers to adopt a “common sense” approach to opening markets for agriculture commodities, goods and services. The hope is to reach a comprehensive agreement by the end of 2004.
   Express carriers DHL, FedEx Express, TNT and UPS, represented by the Brussels-based International Express Carriers Conference, are seeking “meaningful commitments” for express delivery services as part of the General Agreement on Trade in Services. International Express Carriers Conference members want commitments from WTO members to facilitate clearance by customs and other border agencies.
   “Efficient express delivery is critical to any nation’s ability to participate in the global economy,” the International Express Carriers Conference said in a statement. “This is especially true for small and medium size enterprises, and for the high value added sectors that represent a high percentage of express users and shipments.”