Brazil's Lula cites unequal treatment on trade

SAO PAULO, July 2 (Reuters) Brazil wants to be treated as an equal partner of rich nations in global trade talks, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said today before a summit this week with the European Union.

Lula blamed a refusal by the EU and the United States to lower farm subsidies further for last month's collapse in the Doha round of talks aimed at reaching a world trade deal.

The United States and the Europeans had blamed Brazil and India - leaders of the bloc of developing nations - for the failure. They said the two countries had demanded too many concessions from rich nations on opening up their agricultural sector while refusing to lower their own barriers on industrial goods.

Lula took a hard line in response, saying Brazil would not bow to the wealthy trade powers.

''We made a point of saying the days of subservience are over. We want to be treated as equals,'' he told workers at an auto industry event in Sao Paulo.

Lula will travel to Lisbon for a meeting with European Union leaders on Wednesday at which the impasse in the Doha round will be a main topic.

The talks were launched nearly six years ago with the aim of freeing up world trade and helping lift millions of people out of poverty.

REUTERS TB RAI0045