Brussels, 27/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - For the first time since the suspension of the Doha talks at the end of July, Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson travelled to Washington on Wednesday, with the principal aim of discussing ways of relaunching the Round with his counterpart Susan Schwab and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. EU-US bilateral trade relations are also on the agenda. Before setting off on Saturday for Addis Abeba, where he will take part in this weekend's EU-African Union ministerial meeting, Mr Mandelson will also meet the chairs of the US Senate Agriculture Committee Saxby Chambliss and Finance Committee Charles Grassley, as well as Senator Bill Thomas, known for his opposition to a multilateral agreement at the WTO (see EUROPE 9171). Finally he will meet Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Greeting the Indonesian trade minister and leader of the G33 “friends of special products” countries Marie Elka Pangestu, Ms Schwab told press that “it would be terrific if he (Mr Mandelson) showed up with interesting proposals in his pockets”. She added, however, “when you have 149 members of the WTO, the success or failure of the Doha round rests with more than one or two handfuls of countries”.