[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22727]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  THE WTO MEETING IN QATAR, TAIWAN'S ACCESSION TO THE WTO, AND TRADE 
                          PROMOTION AUTHORITY

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to note that yesterday the WTO 
concluded its fourth ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar.
  Circumstances leading to this meeting were not auspicious. There is a 
war on, after all, and the Middle East is not the most comfortable 
place for the champions of globalization and progress.
  With the global economic slowdown, protectionism is on the rise. Not 
exactly the best time to undertake talks to expand global trade.
  Many of us remember that in 1999, the WTO met in Seattle in very 
difficult circumstances. The city was rocked by rioting, the 
participants failed to reach consensus, and the basic assumptions 
underlying international trade were left in tatters. In sharp contrast 
and against some tough odds, the WTO ministerial meeting was a great 
success.
  The WTO initiated a new Round of international trade negotiations, 
setting forth an ambitious agenda by overcoming difficult objections 
from the EU, the developing world, and even those in this country who 
are less-than-appreciative of the importance of international trade.
  I believe United States Trade Negotiator Robert Zoellick and his team 
deserves much of the credit for the success of Doha.
  By skillfully engineering compromise where compromise did not appear 
possible, Ambassador Zoellick has helped to set the table for important 
gains to come in international trade.
  Thanks to Ambassador Zoellick and President Bush's leadership on 
trade, the future for US agricultural exporters is brighter, prospects 
for improvement in the transparency of the WTO are better, and the 
commitment of all nations to help end the scourge of HIV/AIDS and other 
is more secure. The liberalization of international trade is back on 
track.
  He and his staff were also instrumental in achieving the accessions 
of China and Taiwan at the Doha Ministerial Meeting.
  I also want to highlight two important other achievements of the Doha 
Ministerial.
  First, China acceded to the WTO. This culminates the more than 20 
years of economic reform in that country, and, I think, places China 
squarely on the path toward greater political reforms. We should 
congratulate Ambassador Zoellick for his leadership on that score.
  Finally, I want to say a special word of congratulation to the people 
of Taiwan for achieving WTO accession at Doha. Taiwan's membership in 
international organizations such as the WTO is an important recognition 
of her current and future contributions.
  Taiwan is a critical member of the international community. The WTO, 
and other global institutions, are better off for Taiwan's membership.
  Ambassador Zoellick and Assistant USTR Jeff Bader deserve special 
recognition for ensuring Taiwan's entry into the WTO over the potential 
objections of the other newest member of that organization.
  This was a good week for international trade. I hope that the United 
States Congress will follow up on the successes of this week and 
provide the President with the authority he needs to negotiate new 
trade agreements.
  We need to capitalize on the gains made at Doha, and Trade Promotion 
Authority for the President is the critical tool he needs to do just 
that.
  I am hopeful that the House will act on a bill to provide the 
President TPA this session, and that the Finance Committee will have 
the opportunity to mark-up that bill for a vote on the floor before we 
leave for the holidays.

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