Poor economies tell rich nations to do more

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Related Articles

'No breakthrough in WTO talks before '08'Failure of Doha round to impact India: StudyDoha round talks at last mile, says Nath

Geneva, November 15:: Brazil, China, India and other developing nations will urge rich countries to make greater efforts to reach a new global trade deal, according to a draft statement underscoring how little progress has been made in recent negotiations.

The United States, Europe and others need to clarify what concessions they are willing to make in World Trade Organization talks so that poorer economies "can do their part, in proportion to their capabilities," said a draft statement by over 70 nations, obtained on Wednesday by The Associated Press.

The statement precedes a meeting on Thursday of developing countries at the WTO's Geneva headquarters, which comes amid a frustrating series of negotiating sessions that have produced little to no progress on a deal that would slash farm subsidies and tariffs in the rich world, while opening up markets in developing countries for manufacturers.

Brazil's foreign minister and India's commerce chief will be among the senior government officials present.

"Most of the world's farmers live in developing countries," the statement said. "They continue to be burdened by gigantic trade-distorting subsidies and prohibitive market access barriers in developed countries. Addressing these distortions effectively is the most important unfinished task in the WTO."