PARIS - U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick announced today that the United States will contribute approximately $1 million dollars for trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) to the World Trade Organization. This latest contribution will bring total U.S. TRTA for the Doha Development Agenda to almost $4 million since the launch of negotiations in November 2001.

"As we are working to move the Doha negotiations forward, we recognize the importance of providing assistance to the developing countries to help them participate in the negotiations, implement the obligations they undertake and benefit from the results," said Zoellick. "This money can be used, among other things, to help developing countries in enhancing their capacity to assess their interests and participate in the market access related aspects of the DDA negotiations, including with respect to the preparation of service requests and offers. We would also hope that this money can be used to further strengthen the capacity of developing countries to participate in the WTO's work on Trade Facilitation."

"Trade can be a powerful tool for developing countries in building their economies and improving the lives of their citizens. Helping countries trade more, helps Americans gain expanded access to overseas markets," Zoellick added. Trade capacity building is an important means to help developing countries make the most of the opportunity provided by the Doha negotiations.

One area of particular potential for developing countries is services. According to the World Bank, the services industry represented 54% of the GDP in low and middle income countries in 2000, up from 46% in 1990.

Today's announcement of $ 994,100 to the WTO is just one part of much broader U.S. assistance efforts. The United States is the largest single country donor of trade capacity. Total U.S. funding for trade capacity building activities was $761 million in FY 2003, up from $369 million in 1999.