Market access is the key that will unlock the negotiations and ambitious reform is essential if this round is to live up to its name as a development round. Without deep tariff cuts that increase trade flows, there will be neither income growth nor new opportunities for farmers, particularly for those in developing countries. Tariff cuts cannot be undermined by open-ended loopholes for sensitive and special products.

There has been a lot of talk about the G20 proposal. It proposes deep cuts in trade-distorting domestic support, but lacks sufficient market access to achieve the goals of this development round. It is also vulnerable to loopholes that will result in less rather than more market access. The U.S. stands ready to roll-up our sleeves and negotiate, but we need a balanced proposal on the table. As yet, none has been offered, but we are not prepared to give up trying to work with our trading partners to develop one.

The developing countries are hurt most by trade barriers. The U.S. proposal knocks down barriers and builds real opportunity for economic growth in deserving countries. We call on our colleagues in other developed and advanced developing countries to be true champions of the less fortunate by matching our ambitious proposal."

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