India,China responsible for deadlock in Doha talks:US official

       Washington, Sep 13 (PTI) A top US official has blamed the
 stalemate in the Doha trade talks on India, China and other
 emerging nations, asserting they were unwilling to
 shoulder responsibilities reflecting their dramatic rise in
 the global economic hierarchy.
       Since the Doha negotiations began in 2001, the world has
 changed dramatically, Deputy US Trade Representative Michael
 Punke stated before the US Senate Finance Committee on Monday.
   "Above all, we've watched the dramatic rise of emerging
 economies such as China, Brazil and India," he said.
   "The Obama Administration, with the strong support of
 Congress, believes that China and other emerging economies
 must shoulder new responsibilities to reflect this change. So
 far, they have been unwilling to do so," Punke told the
 lawmakers.
   It is no secret that the Doha Round of WTO negotiations
 is floundering, he said, adding that as of next month, WTO
 members will have been engaged in Doha negotiations for a
 decade, with no end in sight.
   "Since the 2008 breakdown in Doha negotiations, the
 United States has put forward a number of procedural and
 substantive ideas in an effort to achieve a breakthrough in
 the negotiations.
   "Speaking bluntly, the reticence of a number of our  negotiating partners has left us with very little to show for
 those efforts," Punke said.
   "As we approach a biennial WTO Ministerial meeting this
 December, the time has come for both an honest assessment of
 where we stand and realistic guidance about where we should
 go. The WTO operates by consensus, so it will be vital for all
 WTO members to participate in this effort," the Deputy US
 Trade Representative said.
       "One thing is clear: what we are doing today in the Doha
 negotiations is not working. That is not a value statement,
 but a simple assessment of the facts. After ten years, we're
 deadlocked," he told the Senate Finance Committee.
       "The ability of the WTO's collective membership to
 acknowledge the reality of our situation will be the first
 test of whether we can devise a credible path forward that
 will expand market access and strengthen the institution.
       "This is important for the Doha negotiations, but also
 for the broader credibility of the WTO as a forum for trade
 negations," Punke said.
       Islam A Siddiqui, the United States' Chief Agricultural
 Negotiator, said the Doha negotiations are facing a difficult
 moment and the gaps on issues related to agriculture,
 non-agricultural market access (NAMA) and services are wide.
       "We are being asked to make significant concessions in
 the first two pillars of the agricultural negotiations --
 domestic support and export competition," he said.
       "To balance these concessions, a final agreement would
 have to provide new market access for US products under the
 third pillar of an agricultural agreement," he asserted.
       "Whatever the future direction of the Doha negotiations,
 I will be a strong advocate for achieving new market
 opportunities for US agricultural products, including in the
 markets of emerging economies," he added. PTI LKJ