Tratarían de salvar Doha antes de que asuma Obama

Después de ganar Obama el temor de que el proteccionismo sea aún mayor en EE.UU. ha hecho que muchos negociadores de la administración republicana se contactaran con sus pares de otros países para acelerar un salvataje de Doha. Casos como el de Peter Mandelson encargado de negocios de Gran Bretaña y Gordon Brown el Primer Ministro con mensajes contundentes hacia el electo presidente son relevantes para el análisis.

Aquí un interesante resumen de Farm Policy con un clipping de los principales diarios y journals que tratan este interesante tema que sin duda repercutirá en el futuro del libre comercio de granos y alimentos.

Top Australian and Brazilian trade officials said on Wednesday they hoped leaders would instruct Doha round negotiators to strike an agreement on core agriculture, manufacturing and services issues before U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January. “That would relieve Obama of ‘very difficult choices at the start of his government,’ Brazil’s Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told Reuters in Geneva, the headquarters of the World Trade Organization.
“Obama has expressed support for the Doha round, but it is unclear how much priority he would place on concluding an agreement, especially if a number of vexing issues remain unresolved when he’s sworn in on Jan. 20.”

Also on the Doha issue, AP writer David Stringer reported yesterday that, “Britain’s business secretary Peter Mandelson urged U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday to embrace free trade and resist protectionism. “Mandelson told a House of Lords committee he believes some of Obama’s fellow Democrats want Obama to restrict imports in an effort to protect American jobs during the economic downturn.” The article added that, “‘Mr. Obama has a pro-market approach, including government action to support markets and distribute their fruits more fairly –that is something he has strongly in common with the British government,’ Mandelson told a hearing of the Lords’ European Union committee. “‘But inevitably he and others within the Democratic Party are concerned about the impact of globalization on American workers and industry. This could lead to Democrats becoming more skeptical about the virtues of free trade and market openness,’ Mandelson said.”

Rachel Keeler reported at the Financial Times Online that, “Peter Mandelson, UK business secretary, on Thursday called on world leaders to make strong progress on the Doha round of global trade negotiations before January 20 since he fears that Barack Obama’s arrival in the White House could impede a deal.”

Patrick Wintour reported yesterday at the Guardian Online that, “Gordon Brown has won the agreement of senior aides to Barack Obama to try to secure a world trade deal before President Bush quits the White House in January. “Brown is to raise the issue at a meeting of world leaders being convened by Bush on the economic crisis in Washington next Saturday. The business secretary, Peter Mandelson, said yesterday that the world economy could secure a deal worth £120bn annually if an agreement is secured.” The article stated that, “Brown may travel to America early to rally support for a world trade deal, but no decision has been made by Number 10. The stance of President-elect Obama towards a world trade deal will be one of his first tests in his relations with Europe, and also developing countries such as India and Brazil. “The British strategy, backed by the Brazilians and possibly by the Americans, is to try to agree the modalities of a deal now and then present this as a fait accompli to Barack Obama before he becomes president. Obama is understood to be cautiously content with such an approach in that he might not have to take the political flak for a deal agreed by his predecessor. “Bush was unable to sanction a deal earlier in July partly due to hostility in Congress, and the need to protect Republican candidates in swing states from angry agriculture and cotton lobbyists who were worried that their markets would be undercut.

“It is hoped Bush may be willing to take a bolder step now and see a deal as part of his legacy.” And an article posted today at FarmOnline (Australia) stated that, “Minister for Trade Simon Crean visited Geneva on November 4-5 for discussions on building political commitment for concluding a negotiating package in the Doha Round of world trade talks. “There is a growing awareness that we must use the window presented by the forthcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit to advance the Doha agenda,’ he said.