November 19, 2008The PresidentThe White HouseWashington, DC 20500Dear Mr. President:We appreciate the strong commitment in the G-20 Group of Nations SummitDeclaration to reach an ambitious and balanced agreement in the World TradeOrganization (WTO) Doha Development Round and to refrain from imposing new tradebarriers over the next year. A Doha Round outcome that achieves commerciallymeaningful market access around the globe will generate economic opportunities forAmerica’s farmers, manufacturers, and service providers, and for producers in developedand developing countries alike. All nations – particularly emerging economies such asBrazil, China, and India – must contribute to achieve success in the negotiations.The United States has long taken the position that substance, not the calendar,should drive the Doha process. We believe this position is particularly true today. Aglobal economic recovery requires significant new market access, including in theemerging markets, many of whom were participants in last week’s G-20 Summit. Asdiscussions continue, it is essential that these nations come to an understanding that theyneed to agree to additional market opening measures in agriculture, manufactured goods,and services if the Doha Round is to be successfully concluded.We do not support the imposition of arbitrary timetables to reach modalities inagriculture and non-agricultural market access or agreement on services. We feelstrongly that another WTO Ministerial meeting should only be held when there issufficient evidence that WTO members are truly committed to opening their markets.We have yet to see such commitment, particularly from the key emerging economies.Holding a Ministerial meeting prematurely carries a high risk of failure that would causeharm to the credibility of the WTO and to global economic confidence.Only through renewed focus on generating significant new market access will themembers of the WTO find their way to an agreement that reduces tariff and non-tariff barriers and barriers to services trade. Such a Doha agreement will lead to greater trade,particularly for the least developed nations of the world, who are in the greatest need of the economic growth it will bring.Your Administration has been well-served by three outstanding U.S. TradeRepresentatives, Ambassadors Zoellick, Portman, and Schwab. They have workedceaselessly for the ambitious and balanced outcome you reaffirmed in the G-20statement. We are not there yet. We salute the G-20 statement condemningprotectionism and support efforts to persuade WTO members to open their markets andaccept negotiating modalities that would achieve the ambition and balance you havecalled for.