Number: RL33634
Title: The World Trade Organization: The Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) Negotiations
Authors: Ian F. Fergusson, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: Talks on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round refer to the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) on industrial and primary products, basically all trade in goods which are not foodstuffs. While the agriculture negotiations have received greater scrutiny in the Doha round, trade of industrial and primary products, the subject of the NAMA negotiations, continue to make up the bulk of world trade. Nearly $13.6 trillion in manufactures and primary products were traded worldwide in 2007, accounting for 80.5% of world trade activity. In the United States, industrial and primary products accounted for 66% of exports and 81% of imports in 2007.2 Hence, the outcome of these negotiations could have a substantial impact on the U.S. trade picture and some effect on the overall U.S. economy.
Pages: 18
Date: August 19, 2008