    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [June 9, 2004]
    [Pages 1016-1018]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    G-8 Leaders' Statement on Trade
    June 9, 2004

        We face a moment of strategic economic opportunity: by combining an
    upturn in growth in various regions with a global reduction in barriers
    to trade, we can deepen,

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    broaden, and extend this economic expansion.
        Trade liberalization is key to boosting global prosperity. It is one
    of the most effective ways to generate economic growth, and represents
    great potential for development and raising living standards.
        We are committed to the multilateral trading system as the best
    means of achieving greater and effective trade liberalization and
    stronger global trade rules. The WTO has played a key role in driving
    global growth, and must continue to do so. The G-8 is committed to
    expanding economic growth, development, and opportunity by achieving
    ambitious results in the global trade negotiations, the Doha Development
    Agenda (DDA) of the WTO. We are encouraged by the reinvigoration of the
    negotiations in recent weeks. Working in cooperation with other WTO
    members, we are determined to move expeditiously before the end of July
    to complete the frameworks on key issues that will put these far-
    reaching negotiations on track toward a rapid and successful conclusion.
    We call on all WTO members to work constructively and swiftly so we can
    meet our shared commitment to the DDA.
        Our most pressing task is to focus on the core issues in the
    negotiations, which are drivers of economic development and growth:
    substantially reducing trade-distorting agricultural subsidies and
    barriers to access to markets; opening markets more widely to trade in
    goods; expanding opportunities for trade in services; overhauling and
    improving customs rules and other relevant procedures to facilitate
    trade; and advancing the development of all countries, especially the
    poorest, within the WTO system. A consensus appears to be emerging on a
    way forward for these issues. We must ensure that we maintain a high and
    consistent level of ambition in all areas, while bearing in mind all
    members' sensitivities.
        In agriculture, we are on the verge of an historic opportunity to
    meet our objectives established at Doha for fundamental agricultural
    reform encompassing strengthened rules and specific commitments on
    support and protection in order to correct and prevent restrictions and
    distortions in world agricultural markets. The next step is to secure
    the framework, by July, for these comprehensive negotiations on all
    forms of export competition, domestic support and market access. All
    three pillars of the agriculture negotiations must be treated with equal
    ambition. Cotton, a matter of primary concern to our African partners,
    can best be addressed ambitiously as part of the agricultural
    negotiations, while at the same time working on development-related
    issues with the international financial institutions.
        Movement on agriculture will help generate progress in other core
    issues of the DDA, including agreement to launch negotiations on trade
    facilitation, as well as continuing to liberalize trade in manufactures
    and services, and strengthening WTO rules. In addition to expanding
    trade between developed and developing countries, it is particularly
    important that the DDA encourage the expansion of South-South trade.
    Open markets and domestic reform go hand in hand, offering the best
    means to further integrate developing countries into the global economy.
    We must ensure that as we look forward, the poorest are not left behind,
    but that they too develop the capacity to participate in the global
    trading system. We recognize that different countries will need to move
    at different speeds towards this aim.
        The progressive integration by developing countries of trade into
    their development policies and poverty reduction strategies is crucial
    for their integration in the global economy, and will increase the
    benefits they derive from the multilateral trading system. We call on
    developing countries to further increase their efforts in this regard,
    and pledge to provide strong support in the form of technical assistance
    to build trading capacity.

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        We are determined to seize this moment of strategic economic
    opportunity. Therefore, we direct our ministers and call on all WTO
    members to finalize the frameworks by July to put the WTO negotiations
    back on track so that we can expeditiously complete the Doha Development
    Agenda.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.