'Anger' at lack of WTO action

VALLETTA - Members of the Commonwealth club of mostly ex-British colonies are "getting very angry" that the World Trade Organisation is failing to deliver for poor nations, the group's top official said last week.

Leaders from the 53 member countries flew into the Mediterranean

island of Malta on Thursday for a twice-yearly meeting dominated by

trade and terrorism.

But some may also face questions on human rights,

Secretary-General Don McKinnon said.

 

After foreign ministers spent two days preparing the closed-

door discussions, McKinnon said the summit would send a united

message to the WTO that its talks in December, whose success is far

from assured, must produce a fairer deal for poorer states.

 

"Most of us are saying that we are really getting very angry

with the lack of ambition that has come into that round in more

recent times.

 

Too many people in Geneva or Brussels are saying it's time a lot

of developing countries lowered their expectations.

 

I don't think they intend to lower their expectations," he told

a news conference.

 

Developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean will use

the summit to push British Prime Minister Tony Blair to use his

position as current president of the European Union to get the EU

to slash farm subsidies as part of a deal in Hong Kong which could

open markets for poorer countries' exports.

 

Efforts so far by Blair and EU Trade Commission Peter Mandelson

to move Europe in that direction have met firm resistance from some

EU countries, especially France.

 

Developing countries lost out in previous trade rounds, McKinnon

said, and Hong Kong talks must deliver.

 

-Nampa-Reuters

 

But some may also face questions on human rights, Secretary-General

Don McKinnon said.After foreign ministers spent two days preparing

the closed- door discussions, McKinnon said the summit would send a

united message to the WTO that its talks in December, whose success

is far from assured, must produce a fairer deal for poorer

states."Most of us are saying that we are really getting very angry

with the lack of ambition that has come into that round in more

recent times.Too many people in Geneva or Brussels are saying it's

time a lot of developing countries lowered their expectations.I

don't think they intend to lower their expectations," he told a

news conference.Developing countries in Africa, Asia and the

Caribbean will use the summit to push British Prime Minister Tony

Blair to use his position as current president of the European

Union to get the EU to slash farm subsidies as part of a deal in

Hong Kong which could open markets for poorer countries'

exports.Efforts so far by Blair and EU Trade Commission Peter

Mandelson to move Europe in that direction have met firm resistance

from some EU countries, especially France.Developing countries lost

out in previous trade rounds, McKinnon said, and Hong Kong talks

must deliver.-Nampa-Reuters

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