The American Soybean Association (ASA) today expressed disappointment over the suspension of the Doha round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. The announcement to suspend talks was made today in Geneva, Switzerland, after a meeting of the G6 countries failed to reach an agreement on important market access issues. The G6 includes the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Australia, Japan and India.

“ASA is disappointed that WTO negotiators were unable to agree to meaningful trade reforms that would level the global playing field for U.S. agricultural exports,” said ASA President Rick Ostlie, a soybean producer from North Dakota. “But we’ve said all along that ASA would not support a WTO agreement that failed to provide significant market access improvement for U.S. soybean and livestock products. As such, we’re pleased that the Administration didn’t budge on its commitment to produce a robust and balanced agreement.”

ASA supports a big outcome on market access for soybean and livestock products in the Doha Round. Specifically, ASA believes both developing and developed countries must make substantial contributions to market access through meaningful tariff reductions and restricted use of sensitive and special product exemptions. Likewise, the ASA believes that any final agreement must subject developing countries with world-class agriculture export sectors, like Brazil and Argentina, to disciplines on domestic support, export subsidies and market access similar to those required of developed countries. In addition, ASA believes that any final WTO agreement must eliminate Differential Export Taxes.

“While today’s news is indeed disappointing, we remain hopeful that negotiators will eventually produce a final WTO agreement that is good for American agriculture. We will work closely with the U.S. negotiating team as they continue to seek a constructive way to move forward from here,” concluded Ostlie.