Paris, France – United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk will be in Paris this week to meet with trade ministers responsible for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round. This informal meeting, which has become an annual event held on the margins of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting, will take place at the Australian Embassy on Thursday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. CET.
Also on Thursday, May 27, at 12:30 p.m. CET, Ambassador Kirk will hold a press conference to discuss the WTO Doha round. The press conference will be held at the Australian Embassy immediately following the meeting with trade ministers. During the press conference, Ambassador Kirk will be joined by Ambassador Michael Punke, Deputy United States Trade Representative and U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO. This event is open press.
The negotiations under the WTO Doha Development Agenda are the current multilateral trade-negotiation round, launched in November 2001. Its focus is to lower trade barriers around the world, allowing countries to increase trade globally. One of the keys to ensuring a positive impact of the Doha Round, particularly for the poorest developing countries, will be to secure new and meaningful market openings, including by the most advanced developing countries.
On Friday, Ambassador Miriam Sapiro will participate in a session on trade at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting.
