The European Union's trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said on Sunday that the European Union (EU) nations could offer improved customs rates to help restart the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks.

However, the EU will only do so if the United States takes the same stance, and if developing countries make greater concessions on their industrial goods and services markets, said Mandelson, who is on an official visit to Brazil.

Brazil invited Mandelson to attend a special meeting of G-20 -- a group of developing nations with a special interest in agriculture.

"This is a very difficult moment for the negotiations, which are currently suspended," Mandelson said.

"But the commitments we have made are predicated on the idea that others will also make an effort in order to reach the end of negotiations," he added.

The EU would continue its push to eliminate agricultural subsidies by 2013, in line with the decision made at the 2005 meeting in Hong Kong, China, the top EU trade official said.

Mandelson underlined the need to restart negotiations before the end of this year, after the U.S. legislative elections which could change the political landscape there.

"We do not know if it will be renewed," he said. "And in 2007, that country will begin to discuss a (planned new) agriculture law. Agreements must be reached before then."

For a deal to be reached, the period between November 2006 to March 2007 is the crucial time, he said.

Source: Xinhua