Agweb.com | By Roger Bernard | August 20, 2003
A group of some 16 developing or "poor" countries have offered up an ag trade proposal for the latest round of WTO talks. The plan is seen as a response to the framework plan that the U.S. and European Union (EU) tabled last week.
While calling for the elimination of some subsidies and deep cuts in others, the plan would place less pressure on the developing/poor countries to make reductions in these areas. Their proposal would require more substantial cuts in import tariffs by developed countries than for poorer countries.
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, South Africa and Thailand signed the document. Some of those countries are members of the Carins Group, but Australia, New Zealand and Canada were not among those signing the document.
EU and U.S. trade officials were lukewarm at best to the plan. EU negotiator Peter Carl is quoted as saying that it was merely a "repetition" of previously known positions by these countries. "There is nothing new in it," Carl said. Chief U.S. ag trade negotiator Allen Johnson said after a first look at the plan that it was "hard to see that there is the level of ambition in all three (areas)."
A major push is being made to get some kind of deal worked out on agricultural trade ahead of a WTO ministerial meeting which starts Sept. 10 in Cancun, Mexico.Agweb.com:
