APEC leaders pledge to break Doha deadlock

Hanoi, Nov 18: APEC leaders said today they were ready to break a deadlock in the Doha round of global trade talks and to remain ''personally involved'' to ensure the talks resume with enough flexibility to secure a breakthrough.

In a statement issued on the first day of their two-day summit, leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum said that meant deeper cuts in trade-distorting farm support ''by major players''.

The statement, which gave no details, said the leaders also vowed to make ''real cuts'' in industrial tariffs, and establish new openings in services trade.

''We have an urgent need to break the current deadlock and to put the negotiations back on a path towards a timely conclusion,'' the statement said.

The Doha round of global trade talks collapsed in July amid bitter disputes over farm subsidies among six key players --the European Union, India and Brazil and APEC members the United States, Australia and Japan.

The APEC leaders said they were committed to moving beyond their current positions in key areas of the round.

''That means making deeper reductions in trade-distorting farm support by major players, creating new market access in agriculture, making real cuts in industrial tariffs, and establishing new openings in services trade,'' they said.

''We will remain personally involved to ensure that negotiations are resumed and will ensure the necessary flexibility and ambition to secure a breakthrough.'' ''We urge our partners in other regions to be similarly bold and engaged,'' the group said.

Earlier in Melbourne, a senior European Union official attending a G20 summit said the United States had to make the first offer to cut subsidies if the Doha round is to be revived.

''Everyone is looking to the US government and what they are doing. If they are willing to do their part, I am sure that the EU would be willing to do its work. But the first step must come from the US side,'' said Eero Heinaluoma, finance minister for Finland.

APEC groups 21 economies along the Pacific Rim, including the United States, Japan, China, Russia and Australia.

REUTERS

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