Washington Update: Trade Talks Drag On Healthcare Remains Focus, But... USDA WASDE November Report on US Sugar Supply and Use

摘要

Tirade Ministers arrived late to the conclusion that WTO ministerial meetings earlier this month, on the 10th anniversary of the protests in Seattle, were more likely to inspire protesters than dealmakers. True to form, participants tamped down expectations in the weeks leading to the meetings, extolled the virtues of sacrifice (from others) and declared incremental victory by pushing the target for conclusion of the Doha trade round to 2010. While virtually everyone agreed that the U.S. is somehow to blame for the failure of negotiators to move the trade talks forward (as well as for global warming, drought, flooding and the extinction of the dinosaur), many of the boo-birds (Brazil and the EU, for example) have domestic political reasons for somequiet foot-dragging of their own at this time. Following elections in Brazil and the seating of a new EU Commission, the pressure will begin to grow.