Global Trade Talks Collapse

ANCHOR:
In Geneva yesterday, World Trade Organization talks on liberalizing global trade failed miserably. Officials blame China, India, and the U.S for failing to agree on important rules.


STORY:
The breakdown came on the ninth day of marathon talks on global trade issues. The United States and India failed to reach a compromise on measures intended to help poor countries protect their farmers against import surges.

[Pascal Lamy, World Trade Organization Chief]:
"I think it's no use beating around the bush, this meeting has collapsed."

Global negotiators have worked on the Doha Development Round trade negotiations ever since the talks began in Doha, Qatar in November, 2001.

[Susan Schwab, U.S. WTO Representative]:
"The U.S. remains committed to the Doha round. This is not a time to talk about a round collapsing."

The collapse also disappointed other countries that had stood to gain from another round of trade opening.

Washington had opposed a push from India, China and Indonesia to secure
measures to protect their farmers if faced with sudden surges of cheap farm
imports.

The impasse derailed substantial progress that had been made on other
agricultural, manufacturing and services trade issues.

Category:

News & Politics

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• global
• trade
• geneva
• switzerland
• world
• organization