US President George W. Bush said Monday that he and visiting
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso had discussed
efforts to resolve differences over agricultural subsidies that
stalled world trade talks.
"We talked about the importance for Europe and the United States
to resolve any differences we have when it comes to the Doha round
for trade, so that we can promote international trade," Bush said
in a joint news conference after he and Barroso met at the White
House.
"We both recognize that the best way to help impoverished
nations is to complete this Doha round and to encourage the spread
of wealth and opportunity through open and reasonable and fair
trade," he said.
Barroso said that the two leaders "gave instructions to all
negotiators to come with a solution as soon as possible."
"There is now the defining moment. We are really at defining
moment," he said. "It will be a very important signal for the world
community if we show that it is possible to have a global approach
to trade and development."
High agricultural subsidies in industrial countries were the
main cause of the breakdown of the Cancun Ministerial Meetings in
2003, and remains among the key outstanding issues in the Doha
Round of World Trade Organization talks.
The talks collapsed in July last year in a disagreement over how
much the European Union, the United States and other industrial
countries should reduce their subsidies and tariffs.
Poorer countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America say that the
subsidies and tariffs prevent them from selling their agricultural
goods abroad.
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(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2007)
