The G-20 group of developing nations will attempt to help revive
the collapse of World Trade Organization talks for a global trade
treaty at a meeting next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian Foreign
Minister Celso Amorim said yesterday.
Amorim announced the G-20 meeting four days after he met with US
Trade Representative Susan Schwab in Rio. Both said the WTO talks
could be saved if trade ministers hold intensive meetings in coming
weeks and months.
Speaking to Brazilian lawmakers, Amorim said regional and
bilateral trade deals won't work as a substitute to a deal
involving the 149-nation WTO.
"There isn't any alternative to the WTO," he said. "If the WTO
doesn't work out, the damage will be severe, not only for Brazil,
but for everyone, and would serve as a signal to the world of the
breakdown of the multilateral system."
WTO negotiations collapsed earlier this month in Geneva over
disagreements on farm subsidies in rich nations and market access
in developing countries. The 21 member nations of the G-20 have
about 60 percent of the world's population and are responsible for
about 21 percent of the planet's agricultural exports.
Trade ministers set a tentative schedule for the new meetings to
be held September 9-10. Then heads of state from India and South
Africa will travel to Brazil's capital, Brasilia, for a September
13 summit, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,
on reviving a global treaty.
Amorim also warned that a complete failure of the Doha Round of
trade talks, started in the capital of Qatar five years ago, could
generate trade protectionism worldwide and lead to increased trade
retaliation by nations.
The G-20 was formed in 2003 with Brazil as one of its leading
member nations. The other members are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile,
China, Cuba, Egypt, the Philippines, Guatemala, India, Indonesia,
Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, South Africa, Thailand,
Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
(Chinadaily.com.cn via agencies August 3, 2006)
