Brussels, 02/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU), representing more than 130 companies of American parentage in Europe, expressed disappointment on Wednesday 'with the lack of progress in the Doha multilateral negotiations' at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva. It 'urges participants, including the European Union, to show the political will and leadership that is essential to ensure a successful Hong Kong Ministerial in December and the conclusion of an ambitious deal in 2006.' AmCham 'calls on decision-makers to avoid protectionist distractions in the wake of the latest referenda on the EU Constitution and the lifting of quotas on textiles in January of this year' (there is rising tension in both the EU and the US over Chinese textile exports). 'AmCham EU is troubled that many negotiators in Geneva expressed such worries,' explained the Chair of AmCham EU's Trade and External Relations Committee, Mark van der Horst to reporters in Brussels on 1 June, recently returned from the WTO headquarters in Geneva. 'Now more than ever, the Doha Development Agenda requires the full attention of serious political leaders if a minimalist outcome, or worse, is to be avoided…. an ambitious final result is possible, provided the major players take urgent and parallel action on the core areas of agriculture, non-agricultural market access and services,' he explained. AmCham EU is looking forward to Pascal Lamy's arrival as the new Director General of the XTO in September: 'His personal commitment to the Round and strong leadership can help Member achieve a successful Hong Kong Ministerial,' but he 'only arrives in September, leading precious little time for him to make an impact,' said van der Horst. The managers of AmCham are not very concerned at the fact the Airbus/Boeing dispute has been taken to arbitration at the WTO, seeing it as a separate matter from the Doha Round. The aircraft dispute will follow its course in the dispute-settlement mechanism of the WTO without bearing any impact on the multilateral negotiations. Commissioner Peter Mandelson and his US counterpart Bob Portman made similar noises in their joint statement on Tuesday (see Europe No. 8958) explained AmCham.