US trade rep and Leuthard pin hopes on Doha
Economics Minister Doris Leuthard and Ron Kirk, the new United States trade representative, have met in Geneva to discuss ways to foster free trade.
It was the first meeting between the two officials. Kirk, a Democrat and former mayor of Dallas, Texas, assumed the office on March 18 after accepting an appointment by US President Barack Obama.
Leuthard and Kirk found common ground on Tuesday after they agreed that concluding the Doha Round of trade talks quickly could help infuse new life into a retreating world economy by warding off a global tendency toward protectionism.
The talks, which began in 2001, stalled last July after a meeting among minsters broke down.
Earlier in the week Kirk met officials from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and various ambassadors and working groups. He is scheduled to give a news conference in Geneva on Wednesday before returning home.
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