GENEVA (AP) -- A key U.S. trade diplomat said Thursday the Doha round of international trade liberalization talks could finally be concluded this year if negotiators begin to tackle issues of substance rather than persist in focusing on procedural questions.
The U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization, Michael Punke, said concrete proposals to lower tariffs for specific sectors need to be put forward if a deal is to be reached in 2011.
In particular, the U.S. is looking for progress on chemicals, industrial and agricultural machinery, forestry products, retails services, express delivery services and computer services, Punke told reporters in Geneva.
"It is critical that we begin to get into the meat of negotiating," he said. "We are ready, willing and able to negotiate anywhere, to negotiate any issue, to negotiate with anybody except ourselves," he said of the U.S. position.
Washington feels it has already made more concessions than it has received, especially from emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India.
Punke called on Beijing and others to show "responsibility" by helping bring the decade-long talks to a successful end.
The trade ambassador said he doesn't expect a substantive breakthrough to occur in Davos, Switzerland, later this month, when senior officials from major economies will be meeting at the annual World Economic Forum to discuss progress on Doha.
But a comprehensive deal is possible this year and should be the goal for negotiators, Punke said.
"We won't settle for Doha light," he said.
The U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization, Michael Punke, said concrete proposals to lower tariffs for specific sectors need to be put forward if a deal is to be reached in 2011.
In particular, the U.S. is looking for progress on chemicals, industrial and agricultural machinery, forestry products, retails services, express delivery services and computer services, Punke told reporters in Geneva.
"It is critical that we begin to get into the meat of negotiating," he said. "We are ready, willing and able to negotiate anywhere, to negotiate any issue, to negotiate with anybody except ourselves," he said of the U.S. position.
Washington feels it has already made more concessions than it has received, especially from emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India.
Punke called on Beijing and others to show "responsibility" by helping bring the decade-long talks to a successful end.
The trade ambassador said he doesn't expect a substantive breakthrough to occur in Davos, Switzerland, later this month, when senior officials from major economies will be meeting at the annual World Economic Forum to discuss progress on Doha.
But a comprehensive deal is possible this year and should be the goal for negotiators, Punke said.
"We won't settle for Doha light," he said.