Doha Deal Fails Again
16 de dezembro de 2008 Due to disagreements on agricultural and industrial goods between the US and countries with emerging economies, the Organização Mundial do Comércio (WTO) has failed to secure a new global commerce pact before the end of the year, reports the Associated Press. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy had hoped to invite top trade negotiators to Geneva this weekend to work out the many issues hindering a deal designed to lower trade barriers; however, the meeting has been delayed until next year.
"I think it is the prudent thing to do given the gaps we have seen," US Ambassador Peter Allgeier said. "We are deeply disappointed we have not reached that stage yet."
The United States and emerging powers such as China and India continued to be at odds over an American demand for massive tariff cuts in the global chemicals sector, while others disagree with the hundreds of millions of dollars in cotton subsidies the US distributes every year to growers.
Brazil’s Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said the United States was blocking hopes of progress with excessive demands of poorer countries; however, Allgeier said the US was not to blame for the lack of progress, noting that Washington has supported many attempts to break the logjam in talks on agriculture with countries such as China and India that scuttled talks in July. He said New Delhi has not shown flexibility.
Amorim said he still favored meeting soon with top government officials from the US, European Union, India, and other countries. But he admitted that such a gathering would be to gain clarity of each other’s positions, and not to hammer out a deal. Argentina’s trade negotiator Nestor Stancanelli said that he did not foresee a ministerial gathering before next year.
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