Industry group to raise support for Doha Round

Industry group to raise support for Doha Round    A broad coalition of business groups has initiated a private-sector effort to encourage governments to complete multilateral trade talks in the World Trade Organization.
   The American Business Coalition for Doha, which was announced in Washington this week, will raise support for a comprehensive agreement in the WTO’s Doha Round. The Doha Round is scheduled to conclude next year, but has experienced a roadblock most recently over proposed agriculture trade reforms.
   Among some of the coalitions largest members are the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Council for International Business, and the National Association of Manufacturers.
   “We will use our strong connections to global business groups to build international private-sector support for key goals in the Doha Round,” said Timothy E. Deal, the U.S. Council for International Business’ senior vice president and chief Washington representative, in a statement. “First and foremost right now is to press the European Union to step forward and match the U.S. proposal with something that can ensure negotiations won’t fall apart in Hong Kong.”
   WTO members are scheduled to meet at the ministerial level in Hong Kong in December to lay out the final phase of the Doha Round negotiations.