The Asia-Pacific Rim leaders are expected to issue a statement calling for cuts in trade-impeding tariffs and complete abolition of agricultural export subsidies by developed nations by 2010, South Korea's trade minister said Wednesday.

At a press conference held after the two-days ministerial meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan, Kim Hyun-chong said that the level of reductions being called for is on a par with the Swiss-formula that requires real cuts on duties.

"The statement will send a strong message of support to the World Trade Organization (WTO) efforts to push forward the Doha Round," the official said.

APEC members have yet to agree on certain details, but claimed the statement is not intended to be mere "lip service," but is to be followed by concrete action, he added.

"We believe it is imperative to take action for concessions at the Hong Kong meeting," he told the press conference.

The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) calls for the world economies to reach an understanding on respective timetables for phasing out barriers, and reach an understanding on the so-called coefficients, or the extent of the cuts they will make.

The WTO Doha Round trade talks, first introduced at the fourth WTO biannual ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar, in 2001, have been stalled due to deep differences between the developed and developing members on market access, agriculture subsidies and tariff structures. The push by APEC leaders to keep the momentum going is seen as important because the region represents nearly half of the world trade.

Experts said that of the major items being discussed, agriculture is causing the most problems.

Agriculture is seen as the most serious challenge to progress, with the European countries opposing the US demand for expanded market access while calling on Washington to do away with its own subsidies that distort the market.

Ministers from 148 member of the WTO are to convene what many experts believe will be a make-or-break meeting in Hong Kong on Dec. 13-18.

But experts are not optimistic about the outcome of the WTO ministerial conference.

"I don't think there is much hope for the Doha Round meeting in Hong Kong as there is no real movement on agricultural subsidies by the developed countries," Michel Yahuda, an expert on Asia-Pacific affairs at London School of Economics, told Xinhua.

Exports subsidies are one of three barriers holding up progress on agriculture talks. The others are domestic subsidies for farmers and high duties that can reach several hundred percent for certain sensitive agricultural produces.

The special statement is also expected to touch on matters such as the Bogor Goals, calling for all members to stick to the timetable of removing trade and investment barriers, free trade agreements and regional trade agreements. Other issues are on enhancing human security measures and cooperation in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Since its inception in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies, APEC has become a formidable regional forum acting as the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic and technical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

APEC account for more than one-third of the world's population (2.6 billion people), about 60 percent of world GDP and nearly half of world trade. It represents the most economically dynamic region in the world, having generated nearly 70 percent of global economic growth in its first 10 years.

Source: Xinhua