Rich nations criticised on trade!
Developing countries have urged the US and European Union (EU) to offer fresh concessions on agriculture to break a logjam in the trade talks. The G20 grouping of middle-sized economies said the EU must set a date for ending its farm export subsidies.
Poorer countries have attacked new EU tariffs on bananas while criticising the US's stance on cotton subsidies.
Squabbling between the US and EU over support for farmers has dominated the talks in Hong Kong so far. The US has urged the EU to go further in cutting food import tariffs, but the EU has reiterated that farming is just one factor in the negotiations. Talks have not moved forward as there has been no movement in agriculture Speaking on the third day of talks, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson launched an attack on US subsidies for cotton farmers. He accused US negotiators of "using a general smokescreen to dodge a specific commitment" to curb the annual $4bn in aid given to cotton farmers. He also criticised the negotiating tactics being used by some other nations as "reckless and unrealistic".
The impasse between EU and US negotiators has prevented progress being made in other areas such as opening up trade in manufactured goods and services. Celso Amorim, Brazil's foreign minister, said the EU and US must both make concessions, over farm export subsidies and support for cotton farmers respectively.
African farmers have criticised the US for not curbing its own cotton subsidies, threatening to leave the meeting unless progress is made. They argue that US support for its farmers distorts global markets, making it difficult for them to get a fair price for their goods.
"We came here to get concrete results not to hear more proposals that will never be respected," said Ibrahim Malloum, head of the African Cotton Producers Association.
Meanwhile, Latin American countries have condemned a new EU tariff system on imports of bananas due to come into force on 1 January.
With talks into their third day, negotiators have admitted that little progress has been made so far.
"Talks have not moved forward as there has been no movement in agriculture which is the make-or-break issue in the talks," India's Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said on Wednesday.
The EU has agreed in principle to end farm export subsidies but wants concessions from the US in return, particularly on food aid.
The EU says this scheme, which guarantees farmers a market for their crops at times of emergency, is a subsidy and distorts the market.
Little movement
US Trade Representative Rob Portman said movement on reducing EU import tariffs on agriculture was central to breaking the logjam.
KEY TRADE FLASHPOINTS
Cotton : African cotton producers say huge US subsidies distort trade but the US says it will only agree a deal on cotton as part of wider settlement on agriculture
Bananas : EU preferences to banana producers in former Caribbean colonies were ruled illegal by the WTO and Latin American countries say tariffs are too high
Food Aid : The EU says that all food aid should be given in cash and that US grain shipments to developing countries distort the market. The US believes food aid in kind is vital in famine relief
"We will not succeed, in Hong Kong or after, if we continue to focus on only one part of the round," Mr Mandelson said.
The talks are being held against a backdrop of violent clashes between police and anti-globalisation protesters.
THE NORTHERN RICH COUNTRIES ARE BEING, AS ALWAYS, SELFISH & SHORTSIGHTED, BUT NOW THEY ARE QUARELLING MORE AND MORE WITH ONE ANOTHER & WILL SOON SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT...WILL THEY, NIL THEY!
Shalom!!!
Poorer countries have attacked new EU tariffs on bananas while criticising the US's stance on cotton subsidies.
Squabbling between the US and EU over support for farmers has dominated the talks in Hong Kong so far. The US has urged the EU to go further in cutting food import tariffs, but the EU has reiterated that farming is just one factor in the negotiations. Talks have not moved forward as there has been no movement in agriculture Speaking on the third day of talks, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson launched an attack on US subsidies for cotton farmers. He accused US negotiators of "using a general smokescreen to dodge a specific commitment" to curb the annual $4bn in aid given to cotton farmers. He also criticised the negotiating tactics being used by some other nations as "reckless and unrealistic".
The impasse between EU and US negotiators has prevented progress being made in other areas such as opening up trade in manufactured goods and services. Celso Amorim, Brazil's foreign minister, said the EU and US must both make concessions, over farm export subsidies and support for cotton farmers respectively.
African farmers have criticised the US for not curbing its own cotton subsidies, threatening to leave the meeting unless progress is made. They argue that US support for its farmers distorts global markets, making it difficult for them to get a fair price for their goods.
"We came here to get concrete results not to hear more proposals that will never be respected," said Ibrahim Malloum, head of the African Cotton Producers Association.
Meanwhile, Latin American countries have condemned a new EU tariff system on imports of bananas due to come into force on 1 January.
With talks into their third day, negotiators have admitted that little progress has been made so far.
"Talks have not moved forward as there has been no movement in agriculture which is the make-or-break issue in the talks," India's Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said on Wednesday.
The EU has agreed in principle to end farm export subsidies but wants concessions from the US in return, particularly on food aid.
The EU says this scheme, which guarantees farmers a market for their crops at times of emergency, is a subsidy and distorts the market.
Little movement
US Trade Representative Rob Portman said movement on reducing EU import tariffs on agriculture was central to breaking the logjam.
KEY TRADE FLASHPOINTS
Cotton : African cotton producers say huge US subsidies distort trade but the US says it will only agree a deal on cotton as part of wider settlement on agriculture
Bananas : EU preferences to banana producers in former Caribbean colonies were ruled illegal by the WTO and Latin American countries say tariffs are too high
Food Aid : The EU says that all food aid should be given in cash and that US grain shipments to developing countries distort the market. The US believes food aid in kind is vital in famine relief
"We will not succeed, in Hong Kong or after, if we continue to focus on only one part of the round," Mr Mandelson said.
The talks are being held against a backdrop of violent clashes between police and anti-globalisation protesters.
THE NORTHERN RICH COUNTRIES ARE BEING, AS ALWAYS, SELFISH & SHORTSIGHTED, BUT NOW THEY ARE QUARELLING MORE AND MORE WITH ONE ANOTHER & WILL SOON SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT...WILL THEY, NIL THEY!
Shalom!!!
posted by TIUranta at 3:29 AM
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