His remarks came as the Clinton administration is preparing for the November 30-December 3 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle, Washington, where ministers are expected to launch a round of trade negotiations. The United States will work aggressively to reduce barriers to trade in agriculture and eliminate agricultural production and export subsidies.
Governments can no longer hammer out agreements in negotiating sessions without public input.
I am delighted to see all of you here today. I'd like to spend the next several minutes outlining for you the Administration's agenda for the new trade round which we hope to launch at the Seattle WTO Ministerial that begins November 29th. We view the Seattle ministerial as an opportunity to continue to project to the international community our vision of an open, rules-based trading system that benefits everyone. You play a critical role in this effort. Working as partners, we demonstrate how societies that support the aspirations and rights of their people facilitate growth, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.