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>> PUNKE: I thought I'd talk briefly about
the U.S. perspective on
where we've been,
where [we are], and where we are going.
I think it's a particularly appropriate time
to have that discussion because
we [are] at an interesting
and important juncture here
as far as the Doha negotiations are concerned.
But to start off first by stepping back
just a little bit about where we've been.
I think it is significant
that in the past several months
the U.S. and many others in Geneva
have succeeded in
what I think of as restarting the engines
of the Doha negotiations.
There have been several aspects of that.
I think the small group process
that we engaged in
over the course of the fall
was very significant in that it
helped us collectively
to make the segue
from only talking about process
to beginning to talk about substance.
Part of that process
of talking about substance
was very helpful to me,
and I think it was very helpful
to many of my colleagues
and counterparts in Geneva
in getting a sense of how
the various issues that are out there
need to be crystallized.
I think it was in some ways
a very important way of specifically engaging
all of the ambassadors in the negotiations.
One of the things that we heard
over the course of the fall
is that many people were looking for
explicit political signals
from the U.S.
and from other leaders in the world.
One of the things that we worked very hard to deliver
was an explicit statement
coming out of both APEC and the G20,
focusing on the Doha negotiations.
And I think I can say
without fear of contradiction
that there was no one at the G20
leaders meeting who was more detailed
or more explicit
in his comments on Doha than President Obama.
He reiterated his commitment
to the WTO and to Doha.
He indicated his willingness
to take a good agreement
if it can be reached
before the U.S. Congress.
He was very clear in stating our ambitions
for the round and what we are seeking,
but he also indicated that he understands
that negotiations by definition
involve a process of give and take.
He also very directly challenged
the emerging economies
— the India's, China's and Brazil's —
to step up to their responsibilities
as major players in the global economy.
Having come back,
all of us, from APEC and the G20,
what we did in Geneva
in the sort of dying days of December
was to lay out a process
and a structure for January
to ensure that we could come back
and have the potential to hit the ground running.
We are in the midst already
of what over the next three or four weeks
will be meetings at every level
— experts, ambassadors, senior officials,
even a couple of opportunities at Davos
and elsewhere for ministers
to have direct exchanges on Doha.
So that's a segue really,
from my standpoint,
into where we [are].
Where we [are] right now I think,
to state it succinctly,
is we are all out of process.
There's no process left to do
and what that means
is that the only thing that's left is negotiating.
That said, it's clear to me
that the central question of the round,
that the central question
of whether or not we'll succeed in Doha
remains the question
of whether the emerging economies
are prepared to accept the responsibility
that comes along with their position
in the global economy.
If they're prepared to accept that responsibility,
we'll have a successful outcome.
If they're not prepared to accept that responsibility,
we won't.
For the part of the United States,
let me say very clearly that we are ready,
willing and able to negotiate anywhere,
to negotiate any issue,
to negotiate with anybody except ourselves.
That last point is an important one.
We need interlocutors
across the table from us
who are prepared to talk about
the key substantive issues
that we've all worked to identify
over the past several months.
I think it's very important to emphasize
that the eyes of the world
are on all of the major players in this round.
I hear sometimes that people are looking
to the United States and that's appropriate,
but the world has changed.
It's no longer the case
that the U.S. or a couple of developed countries
can dictate the agendas and outcomes of the WTO.
We have a larger leadership table now
and everybody knows that that includes
the emerging economies.
So the world is looking toward all of us
to shoulder our appropriate share of the burden.
The last thing I'll say
before opening it for questions
is that I firmly believe
that we can have a successful outcome of the round
this year "if".
The "if" comes back to the question
of whether we start immediately negotiating,
doing the work that has to be done.