DALIAN, July 11: EU trade chief Peter Mandelson on Monday urged trade ministers from WTO member states to move forward in global trade liberalization talks that have stalled amid rifts over agriculture. “Before the summer break we need to make tangible progress in agriculture, on both market access and domestic and export subsidies, and in agreeing on the broad level of ambition we are aiming for in lowering tariffs on manufacturers,” Mandelson said.
He was speaking ahead of a July 12-13 ministerial meeting that aims to sketch out an accord ahead of a World Trade Organization summit in Hong Kong in December, in order to complete the negotiations in 2006.
Last week at the Group of Eight meeting of industrialized nations in Gleneagles, Scotland, the United States and EU pledged to get rid of trade-distorting agricultural export subsidies, but did not specify when or how.
“Exchanging notes with other key negotiators ahead of Dalian has led me to conclude that opposing positions are not hardening,” Mandelson said.
“There is potential for movement on all sides, but translating this into agreement remains hard.
“I appeal to all ministers at Dalian to take forward the Gleneagles spirit. Of course the issues are complex, but there should be no more needless delay.”
The EU and the United States are hoping that developing countries will offer concessions on trade in services and industrial goods in exchange for ending agricultural subsidies.
The ministerial meeting is the highest-level WTO gathering to be held in China since it joined the world body in 2001 and is part of the Doha Round of trade liberalization talks.
Some 32 trade ministers are set to take part, out of the WTO’s full membership of 148.
The Doha Round of talks, launched in the Qatari capital in 2001, aims to expand free trade in a way that benefits poor nations.
Mandalson later held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Trade Minister Bo Xilai where the two discussed an EU investigation into rising Chinese shoe exports to Europe.
In Beijing, fresh from talks with Bo on Sino-US trade issues, US Trade Representative Rob Portman reiterated Washington’s pledge to cut agricultural subsidies.
“President Bush’s call to eliminate all trade distorting agricultural subsidies at the G-8 meetings is a bold vision that gives the Doha Round additional momentum,” Portman said.
“It also demonstrates the US desire to achieve real reform which will assist the developing world. American farmers want to see a level playing field and foreign barriers reduced or eliminated. Doha is the best place to achieve real reforms,” Portman said.—AFP
