WASHINGTON -- The National Association of Manufacturers today announced it is initiating a new coalition of companies and associations aimed at supporting negotiation of the Environmental Goods and Services Agreement in the World Trade Organization.
“We cannot let the recent failure of the WTO meetings in Geneva put the parking brake on forward movement in trade,” said NAM President John Engler. “While everyone sorts out when and in what form the Doha Round might be re-started, we should seek out areas in which there may be enough interest for stand-alone agreements to advance trade liberalization in areas in which participants would see a balance of interests.
Engler says the Environmental Goods and Services Agreement is one area where there may be enough interest among WTO members.
The agreement would lead to tariff-free treatment among its participants on a range of environmental goods and services, as proposed by the U.S. and the European Union last year.
“This would be a worthy endeavor,” Engler said. “Working together to create barrier-free trade in goods and services that improve our skies and water not only can restore confidence that WTO members can move forward, but also will help result in a cleaner environment.”
“While this coalition will be an integral part of our approach to the WTO, we remain completely dedicated to finding other areas where progress can be made to advance the Doha Round,” said Engler. “These include a trade facilitation agreement that would shorten customs clearance times and non-tariff barrier agreements among countries willing to enter into them.”