France sees little chance of WTO trade accord given current offers
08.08.07, 6:44 AM ET
PARIS (Thomson Financial) - WTO trade liberalisation talks stand little chance of bearing fruit given the proposals under discussion by negotiators, the French trade minister warned.
Secretary of state for industry and foreign trade Herve Novelli told a press conference he sees 'few chances' that the Doha round of talks aimed at reducing global trade barriers will succeed given what is on the table.
'The proposals have to be substantially improved,' he said, adding that talks 'have stumbled on the questions of (trade in) agriculture and industry.'
The Doha round aimed at extending the benefits of freer trade to poor countries was launched in the Qatari capital in 2001 but has foundered ever since.
Emerging market and developing countries are demanding lower tariffs for their goods exported to industrialised nations.
Rich countries are for their part seeking greater access for industrial products in emerging and developing nations.
Negotiators, operating under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation, will open a new series of talks in Geneva on Sept 3.
tfn.paris@thomson.com
afp/hem/gp
Copyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment