EU blamed for looming WTO failure

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-- EU blamed for looming WTO failure

Posted by NYCTrancefan on Dec-13-2005 22:05:

EU blamed for looming WTO failure

http://euobserver.com/9/20530

"EU blamed for failure
Arriving to Hong Kong on Monday, US representative Rob Portman argued that the EU - among others - had not matched the "bold proposal" on eliminating farm subsidies and import tariffs made by Washington.

"The key to development is market access. Agriculture access is the top challenge and we think that we need to make more progress here", Mr Portman said, according to AFP.

Brazil, the main spokesman for the developing countries, also blamed the EU directly, indicating that the Doha talks would not be completed without a better offer from Brussels.

Meanwhile, EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson is trying to shift focus from farming to the overall deal that could emerge from the six-day meeting, which might include other areas such as improved market access for industry and services.

No new EU farm offer
He has made clear he will not come up with a new proposal on agriculture.

"Concentrating on agriculture, important as it is, to the exclusion of other areas, will defeat that ambition", Mr Mandelson said.

The European Commission has also presented a plan to boost its trade-related aid from �400 million to �1 billion per year from 2010 onward."

Gee, I wonder if the usual protesters, anarchists, a nihalists and whoever else will start burning EU Flags now. Seeing Mandelson's declaration of no new movement by Europe on agriculture in Hong Kong which is at the heart of the matter.

Posted by St_Andrew on Dec-14-2005 17:46:

Actually, I would blame France... But yeah I'm ashamed to be part of this union when it comes to this