Disputes over WTO talks easing

MUMBAI – The subsidies deadlock between rich and developing nations which is dogging World Trade Organisation talks appears to be easing and the United States is prepared to do more to bridge the gap, a top US official said yesterday.

“Differences are small compared to points of agreement and there is room for us to move in together,” US Treasury Secretary John Snow told reporters. “All those who are negotiating the Doha round should move forward …the United States is prepared to do its part to reduce tariffs and subsidies.”A series of closed-door talks on the Doha round between Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, US Trade Representative Rob Portman, Brazil’s Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Japanese Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai were held Monday at the Indian embassy in London.The heavyweights of the WTO are trying to salvage the four-year-old Doha Round negotiations, which aim to produce a global trade-opening deal.A key plank of the talks, launched in Qatar in 2001, is to use commerce to boost living standards in developing countries.The five parties are trying to break a bitter deadlock particularly over customs duties and subsidies on farm goods.The logjam is jeopardising the chances of all 148 WTO member states approving an outline deal at a December 13-18 ministerial conference in Hong Kong.Developing countries, which accuse rich nations of using subsidies and tariffs to skew the market against them, have been wary of cuts offered by the US and EU, saying they lack real bite.-Nampa-AFP”All those who are negotiating the Doha round should move forward …the United States is prepared to do its part to reduce tariffs and subsidies.”A series of closed-door talks on the Doha round between Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, US Trade Representative Rob Portman, Brazil’s Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Japanese Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai were held Monday at the Indian embassy in London.The heavyweights of the WTO are trying to salvage the four-year-old Doha Round negotiations, which aim to produce a global trade-opening deal.A key plank of the talks, launched in Qatar in 2001, is to use commerce to boost living standards in developing countries.The five parties are trying to break a bitter deadlock particularly over customs duties and subsidies on farm goods.The logjam is jeopardising the chances of all 148 WTO member states approving an outline deal at a December 13-18 ministerial conference in Hong Kong.Developing countries, which accuse rich nations of using subsidies and tariffs to skew the market against them, have been wary of cuts offered by the US and EU, saying they lack real bite.-Nampa-AFP