Zoellick: Restarting global trade talks possible by July

Zoellick: Restarting global trade talks possible by July    The Bush administration’s lead trade negotiator told the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday that global trade talks could resume as early as July.
   The last round of World Trade Organization negotiations stalled in September mostly over agriculture tariffs and the so-called “Singapore Issues,” which cover investment, competition and transparency in government procurement.
   Zoellick told lawmakers that progress on agricultural trade reforms would occur if WTO members could agree to eliminate export subsidies, including export credits, end state-trading monopolies and “discipline food aid in a way that still permits countries to meet vital humanitarian needs,” he said.
   While the Bush administration remains committed to eliminating export farm subsidies, Zoellick said other countries must do the same. The administration also expects open access to developing country markets for its farm products.
   Zoellick said the administration, however, disagrees with recent WTO ruling against U.S. cotton subsidies and the European Union’s new labeling rules for genetically modified agricultural products.