GUYANA/CARICOM REACTION TO SUSPENSION OF DOHA ROUND TALKS

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000748 SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EAGR WTO GY SUBJECT: GUYANA/CARICOM REACTION TO SUSPENSION OF DOHA ROUND TALKS REF: 05 GEORGETOWN 1309 ¶1. SUMMARY: The GOG has expressed disappointment on suspension of WTO Doha Round Talks, placing blame on the G6 while also expressing hope for a resumption of talks. Media and editorial coverage has been minimal. END SUMMARY. ¶2. GOG Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation and Caribbean WTO spokesman Clement Rohee issued a statement on July 25 describing the collapse of WTO Doha Round talks as a "shock [that] engenders a profound sense of disappointment" and attributed the suspension to the failure of the G6 to reach agreement. The statement did not point fingers, but instead said that "the failure of the G6 to reach agreement among themselves, however, should not be taken as representative of the entire organization, but rather should be regarded as failure of the major players. Blame should be shared equally among them for this disastrous outcome." Speaking for the Caribbean, Rohee called demands for market access to Small Vulnerable Economies excessive and stated that "the opening of developing countries' markets to rich farmers through excessive tariff liberalization and sustained attempts to trivialize Special Products and the Special Safeguard Mechanism cannot be in the development objectives of this Round", echoing past calls for Special and Differential Treatment for small economies (reftel). Rohee concluded by saying that "the Caribbean remains committed to a successful Doha Round" and urged that talks be resumed as early as possible after the summer break. The entire text of Rohee's statement is available online at http://www.moftic.gov.gy/PressReleases/SP-Fai ledDohatk s..htm ¶3. Guyanese media have carried wire reports of the Doha suspension from Reuters and AP as well as Rohee's statement but have otherwise not been giving the story much attention. THOMAS