France waters down EU call on Doha trade talks

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

BRUSSELS, Feb 19 (Reuters) European Union industry ministers today urged key partners in the stalled Doha trade talks to explore ways to conclude the negotiations successfully, though France vetoed setting a 2007 target for such an outcome.

The ministers agreed the possibilities for a ''constructive compromise'' should be explored and called on key partners to ''act in the same spirit of constructive commitment in order to conclude the negotiations in a successful way'', EU sources said.

The call echoes a similar stance by EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

France, however, rejected adding ''as soon as possible in 2007'' to the conclusions of Monday's meeting, EU sources said.

French Trade Minister Christine Lagarde said on February 9 she saw no progress in world trade talks in the near future and that a new US farm bill was a particular obstacle to a deal.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks on lowering barriers to commerce were halted last year amid disagreements over proposals to free up farm trade in particular.

France, the staunchest defender of EU farm subsidies, has repeatedly warned Mandelson against going too far in the negotiations.

Reuters AB RN2045

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X