CANADA SUPPORTS WTO BUDGET REFORM

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000686 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TPP/MTA ROBERT DOWNES GENEVA FOR USTR DAVID SHARK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECIN AFIN CA WTRO SUBJECT: CANADA SUPPORTS WTO BUDGET REFORM REF: STATE 50656 ¶1. Canada supports the U.S. objective, outlined Reftel, to reform the WTO budget process and move towards a two-year budget cycle, according to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Senior Trade Policy Officer Dean Steadman. Steadman told Econoff that the WTO needs "results-based budgetary and accounting systems" and feels that moving towards a biennial budget process is one of a number of reforms that should be considered. Steadman will be the GOC point of contact on this issue. ¶2. Steadman noted that he had raised the issue with the Canadian mission in Geneva during a visit last week. He said that although his Geneva colleagues were supportive of the idea, they noted that the ongoing Doha round negotiations would make it difficult for them or others to focus on WTO budgetary reform at this time. CELLUCCI