International TradeNewsletter - March 21, 2002
In this Issue...
U.S. Office of Trade Representative (USTR)
March 21, 2002
- Request for Public Comments on U.S. WTO Agenda. The USTR
is requesting written public comments on general U.S. negotiating objectives as
well as country and item-specific priorities for the negotiations and work
program launched at the WTO's Fourth Ministerial Conference in November 2001.
WTO Trade Ministers at their Fourth Ministerial Meeting in Doha, Qatar, approved:
(1) A declaration launching new global trade negotiations and a work program;
(2) a declaration on Intellectual Property Protection (TRIPS) and Access to
Medicines and Public Health; and (3) a Decision on Implementation-Related Issues
and Concerns raised by Developing Countries. Comments received will be
considered by the Executive Branch in formulating U.S. positions and objectives
for U.S. participation in the negotiations and discussions on the WTO's agenda.
Public comments are due by May 1, 2002. For more information on the
request and details on submitting comments, visit
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-6606-filed.
- The Bush Administration has transmitted to Congress the “2002
Trade Policy Agenda and the 2001 Annual Report of the President of the United
States on the Trade Agreements Program.” The document outlines the
Administration's guiding principles and trade priorities for the year ahead and
reviews the principal trade policy developments of 2001, and as required, has
been transmitted to the Senate Committee on Finance for review. Copies of the
report are available at http://www.ustr.gov.