Australian Trade Minister Warren Truss on Tuesday called on the United States and other countries concerned to make significant concessions to conclude the Doha Round negotiations under the World Trade Organizations ( WTO).
"Certainly, the U.S. farm subsidies are a concern for other countries particularly agricultural producing countries. We would like the U.S. to take positive steps toward reducing its farm support,"Truss told journalists after meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders Week.
But he noted that other countries should also made concessions such as in industrial sector before the Doha Round negotiations can yield fruits.
The WTO talks have come to a standstill because of differences between the U.S., EU, Brazil and India on eliminating trade barriers to agricultural produce and manufactured goods. WTO negotiations will resume in Geneva this week to discuss draft texts aimed at ending the deadlock between developed and developing countries.
Analysts here said that a world trade deal could slip away if progress was not made within the next few months. Schwab warned in July that a breakthrough could be delayed several years if no progress was made by the end of 2007.
Truss said that all members of the APEC are committed to free trade, but it is still important for the economic leaders meeting to make a strong statement of support for the Doha Round. Such statement will give impetus and encouragement to the WTO negotiations, he said.
Schwab said Monday that developed countries needed to do more to ensure Doha succeeded. The U.S. was prepared to do its share, but fast-growing countries also had a big role to play.
The 21 APEC economies account about 46 percent of global trade and about 60 percent of global economic activity.
Source: Xinhua
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