WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick today issued the following statement regarding two proposals distributed to World Trade Organization (WTO) members for consideration:

"Launching a new round of trade liberalization negotiations is essential to promoting global recovery, growth, and development. The global economy needs to move forward.

"Today WTO General Council Chairman Stuart Harbinson released two proposals for consideration, one regarding an agenda for a new round and one involving implementation. These are important milestones on the road to Doha.

"This package for the WTO ministerial is a serious and focused effort reflecting input from all WTO Members and will be the basis for developing a new round declaration that ministers will consider over the coming weeks. The Chairman's efforts provide a basis for us to move forward.

"The proposal for implementation demonstrates that WTO members take seriously the concerns of those in the developing world.

"The proposal for the declaration indicates that with good will and additional creativity and flexibility by all parties, it will be possible to launch the new round at the upcoming ministerial meeting.

"We intend to work constructively with other WTO Members to craft these proposals into an acceptable agenda for all. I want to thank General Council Chairman Harbinson and Director General Mike Moore for their leadership and important efforts."