Trade Coupled with Aid Provides Strongest Results, Portman Says
WASHINGTON – U.S.
Trade Representative Rob Portman announced today the United States will
contribute nearly $1 million for trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) to
the World Trade Organization (WTO). This latest contribution will bring total
U.S. contributions to WTO TRTA for the Doha Development Agenda to almost $6
million since the launch of negotiations in November 2001.
"Trade coupled with aid and technical assistance provides the strongest
results for developing countries," said Ambassador Portman.
"Breaking down trade barriers is essential to economic growth and poverty
reduction, but we must ensure that developing countries have the tools to take
advantage of these new market openings," Portman said. "Our contribution to the
TRTA is part of the United States’ broader efforts to provide ‘Aid for Trade’ to
developing countries."
There is a lot at stake in the Doha Round – particularly for developing countries. The World
Bank estimates that global free trade in goods would raise developing countries’
income by $142 billion in 2015 according to a static estimate.
The WTO’s technical assistance program provides training to help developing
countries by enhancing their ability to understand issues, assess their
interests and participate effectively in the negotiations. It also assists
developing countries in meeting their WTO obligations and benefiting from the
results of WTO negotiations.
The U.S. contribution to the WTO was appropriated by Congress as part of the
funds it provides to the State Department for voluntary contributions to
international organizations. It is just one part of a much broader U.S.
assistance efforts. The United States is the largest single country donor of
trade capacity building assistance.
Total United States funding for trade capacity building activities in FY2005
was $1.3 billion, up from $903 million in the prior year. At the WTO Ministerial
in Hong Kong, Ambassador Portman announced plans to more than double U.S.
contributions to global Aid for Trade, from $1.3 billion in 2005 to $2.7 billion
in grants annually by 2010.
# # #
|