“The Doha Development Agenda: is time running out on U.S. leadership?” Doha Series Luncheon, US Chamber of Commerce, Washington, 23 April 2007

I am very happy to be back in Washington to share with all of you some thoughts on the on-going WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations.

Tom’s choice of the title of this event: “Is Time Running out on US Leadership?” may sound rather provocative here in Washington. But let me reassure you, it is the same question that I get about Brussels, New Delhi, Brasilia or Beijing.

During the last Round of trade negotiations in 1995, the Uruguay Round, US and EU leadership was determinant to the fate of the Round. Today, leadership from these two economic giants is a necessary albeit insufficient condition for a success of the Round. Leadership from key emerging players and ownership by developing countries is now just as important.

Today we know that the Doha Development Round will not be concluded until and unless all these participants are ready to walk the extra mile and table additional contributions to the collective success of this multilateral enterprise.

It is clear that the contributions will be linked to the degree of development and wealth of each participant, with the world poorest countries making the smallest contribution. It is also clear that no one will be asked to move first: countries will have to move in concert, like a big orchestra playing to the same tune.