WTO highlights US barriers

BARRIERS TO market access in the fields of agriculture, steel, textiles and clothing persist in the US according to the latest Trade Policy Review undertaken by the World Trade Organisation.
It warned that the new security considerations in the aftermath of the September 2001 attacks should not become unnecessary trade or investment barriers and expressed concern that the “twin deficits” in the US trade balance could give rise to protectionist sentiment.
While acknowledging that the expanding US preferential network (AGOA and FTAs for example) could help draw partners into the multilateral system, the report stressed that care should be taken to avoid distracting resources away from it.