US wants single deadline for trade agenda

 US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick suggested at a press conference that the WTO fix a deadline for all subjects, instead of different deadlines for each of the 20 issues under negotiation.

 Zoellick proposed that WTO members agree to the modalities for negotiations so that the details of the formula could be worked out by February-March 2004. He suggested Geneva as the venue for the meeting. Zoellick said this would ensure that the negotiations could end by January 2005 as scheduled.

 The US has been insisting on such a framework and recently even threatened to walk out of the WTO if the original deadline is not met.