Trade Policy Staff Committee; Solicitation of Public Comments on Institutional Improvements to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Particularly With Respect to the Transparency of its Operations and Outreach to Civil Society

Zusammenfassung

The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is soliciting public comments on U.S. objectives and proposals for improving the functioning of the WTO, particularly with respect to its outreach activities and the transparency of its operations, and in light of the WTO's ongoing work program and mandated negotiations in agriculture and services. Attention is drawn to the solicitation of Public Comments for the Mandated Multilateral Trade Negotiations on Agriculture and Services in the WTO and Priorities for Future Market Access Negotiations on Non- Agricultural Goods, published on March 28, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 60). That notice called for public comments on general as well as specific negotiating objectives. The issues of outreach and transparency are on- going matters before the WTO and the subject of continuing consultations conducted under the auspices of the WTO General Council. It is also anticipated that, like other internation institutions, the WTO will need to continue to consider appropriate responses to the challenges as well as the benefits offered by "globalization" as its future agenda is fashioned. The TPSC, therefore, also welcomes comments on whether and how the WTO migh