Downing Street Says » Trade Talks

» Thursday, November 6, 2008

Trade Talks

Put that Cathy Ashton was on the radio this morning talking about the world trade deal and her hopes of getting a deal before Christmas, and asked how optimistic the Prime Minister was of making at least some progress on this, the PMS replied that we were certainly hopeful, and the Prime Minister did think this was an important priority. We had seen the world come together to agree to a multi-billion dollar package of bank recapitalisation in a way that nobody would have considered possible, even days before it happened. We would like to see that same spirit of international cooperation being taken forward in other areas including in relation to making progress on a world trade deal.

Asked how important a world trade deal would be to kick-starting economies, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister s view was that it would have an important role. It was an area where leaders could make a difference, and as well as the benefits of trade liberalisation it would also give an important boost to economic confidence at this time.

Asked if the Prime Minister was working directly with the Brazilian President on this, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had certainly been talking to the Brazilian President recently about this as well as the Chinese, the Indians, the Americans, and the Europeans who were the key players in this.

Asked if it was possible to strike an outline deal with the outgoing President, and would Congress accept something like that, the PMS replied that this was clearly a matter for the US to handle and manage. The US would be formally represented by the President, and of course as they were making clear, they would be acting in full cooperation and consultation with the transition team. So we did not have any difficulties with the way the US were handling this, and we would not anticipate therefore any of these problems arising.

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