WASHINGTON, March 1 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday defended its position in the eight-year-old Doha round of world trade talks, saying it could not agree to a weak deal because that would damage the World Trade Organization.
"We remain convinced that a Doha success can be achieved if all major economies are willing to come to the negotiating table," the U.S. Trade Representative's office said in annual report outlining President Barack Obama's trade agenda.
"A sound Doha agreement ... could boost the world economy, support many good jobs, assist poorer countries, and reinforce confidence in a rules-based trading system," the report said.
"In short, it would be good for the world and for the United States. But a weak agreement would not serve these interests and ultimately would weaken the WTO," it said.
(Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Eric Beech)