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<h1><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/wto-services-idUSL1E8KJ8Q520120919">http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/wto-services-idUSL1E8KJ8Q520120919</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1>US, trade allies push for international services talks<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">September 19, 2012, 12:59pm EDT<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>By <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=Doug.Palmer">Doug
Palmer</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A proposed international
agreement to reduce barriers to trade in service sectors
ranging from banking to telecommunications would give the
global economy a much-needed boost, top trade officials said
on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>"This is a huge opportunity to spur economic prosperity and
job growth," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in a
speech at a conference of global companies eager for new
markets to sell their services.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>With the nearly 11-year-old Doha round of world trade talks
all but officially dead, the United States and 19 other
members of the World Trade Organization have been exploring
the idea of negotiating an international services agreement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>"It is our collective plea to the world to take the open
shot," Kirk said, using a basketball analogy to argue for
countries to launch talks aimed at quickly reaching a
high-quality pact. "We need to put points on the board."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Major emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India have
been cool to the idea. But global services companies want the
20 members, which include the 27-nation European Union and
other developed and developing countries, to press ahead.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>"I think the important thing is just to get something
moving," New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said,
expressing optimism that "other important countries" could be
brought into the negotiations once they start.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Mexico's Ambassador to the WTO Fernando De Mateo said
negotiators should aim for a pact within 12 months, once talks
start. Other negotiators also expressed the desire for a
speedy negotiation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Michael Punke, U.S. ambassador to the WTO, said the 20
countries would meet again in Geneva in early October to
consider the next steps.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>"I think we should skip the ritual dance and dive right in,"
said Punke, who also expressed hope that more WTO members
would join in.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast said negotiators should shoot
for an ambitious agreement that sets a high-standard of market
openness without "constantly keeping our eyes on the emerging
economies" and worrying if they can match the commitments.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>South Korean Trade Minister Taeho Bark and several other
speakers said the agreement should be crafted in way that its
commitments can eventually be "multilateralized" among all WTO
members.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>A number of negotiators said the pact could be forged by
consolidating the most ambitious services chapters of existing
free trade agreements, and complementing that with new
market-opening commitments.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Kirk said the United States favored a "negative list" to the
talks, meaning the pact would cover all services sectors
unless they are specifically excluded. Others favor a
"positive" list, which liberalizes only those sectors
specifically mentioned.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Punke and senior EU trade official Joao Machado said a
compromise on that issue was likely, with countries using a
"hybrid" approach.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>"The imperative for us is to get this train rolling down the
tracks," while keeping open the possibility for Brazil, India,
China and other countries to join, Kirk said.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>"This is a train with nothing but first-class service. So if
you get on late, you're not going to have to get on in the
back with the cows and the pigs ... This is a Eurostar," Kirk
said.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>----<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>© Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. </p>
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