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| Europe |
| FT: WTO talks hover on brink of breakdown |
| 2005-12-17 |
| wtoWorld Trade Organisation members were on Friday making an eleventh hour effort to rescue the Doha trade round, as the European Union faced near-total isolation in the 149-member body over its refusal to agree to a date for ending agricultural export subsidies. In an attempt to avert the threat of breakdown at this weekâs six-day ministerial meeting, which ends on Sunday, Pascal Lamy, WTO director-general, called an all-night negotiating session aimed at hammering out a draft declaration that would narrow wide rifts between governments. Mr Lamy acted after about 90 poor nations, many normally loyal to the EU, joined the Group of 20 developing-country agriculture exporters, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to demand that the six-day meeting set 2010 as the deadline for ending export subsidies. The US, although not part of the informal coalition, also backs the demand. However, the EU refused to budge. It insisted it would agree to a deadline only if the US pledged to reform its export credits and food aid programmes, and Australia, Canada and New Zealand agreed to dismantle agricultural state trading monopolies. Brussels says the schemes distort trade by subsidising exports. Peter Mandelson, trade commissioner, accused the EUâs opponents of losing sight of the Doha roundâs strategic objectives by concentrating on agriculture at the expense of other issues, such as liberalisation of goods and services. âThere is no reconciliation yet and no clear basis for negotiation. Between the lines, the emerging direction of the meeting is very worrying,â he said. âIn the main trade areas of discussion, the level of ambition is going backwards.â Other ministers accused the EU of intransigence and challenged it to produce evidence that food aid and trading monopolies distorted trade. Mark Vaile, Australiaâs trade minister, said the EUâs offer to reduce farm tariffs was also unacceptably low. The EUâs 25 members backed Mr Mandelsonâs tough stand, after what participants said were tense discussions. Southern European governments, led by France, were said to favour a continued hard line, while Britain and the Nordic countries were anxious not rule out eventual options for compromise. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #4 Where this train leave the station? |
| Posted by: Farmin B SPemble1217 2005-12-17 15:42 |
| #3 "... only if the US pledged to reform its export credits and food aid programmes." This seems to say that the EU will only buy food from the poor if the US lets Pakistani earthquake victims starve. I would consider that point of view to be morally confused. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2005-12-17 12:46 |
| #2 Mr Lamy acted after about 90 poor nations, many normally loyal to the EU, joined the Group of 20 developing-country agriculture exporters, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to demand that the six-day meeting set 2010 as the deadline for ending export subsidies. The US, although not part of the informal coalition, also backs the demand. France against the World. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2005-12-17 11:26 |
| #1 Since agricultural subsidies are near and dear to the French govt heart (now there is an oxy-moroon for ya), they will not back down on the subsidies without a fight. Popcorn, anyone? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-12-17 11:05 |