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Farmer subsidies bog down trade talks
13 Oct '05
3 min read
No concrete solutions were arrived at during the three-day trade ministers talks calling for reforms in farm subsidies and import tariffs, Wednesday.
Minister from United States, the European Union, Brazil, India and Australia Talks will meet again next week to discuss the issue.
A series of talks on the subject began way back in in Doha, Qatar, in 2001, suppposed to reduce tariff on a range of goods and services, but agriculture which has been the mainstay, is proving to put a break at the arrival of any concrete solution, during the past few years.
The European Union was blamed for the failure of talks as rescinded from accepting concessions that the US sought in return for slashing farm subsidies at 60 percent.
Rob Portman, the US trade Representative was a thoroughly man at the end of the day, He said, "I'm disappointed because we haven't seen much progress on market access. Time is running out."
Meanwhile, upto 70 percent reduction in subsidies from 65 percent offered earlier, by the EU in no way indicated its willingness to meet the demands on tariff reductions.
US offers huge famr subsidies to its cotton farmers which has been objected by mainly Brazil which comprehensively won its case against the US in WTO, recently. Brazil argued that the system of offerrig subsidies encourages overproduction, which is dumped on global markets and depresses prices.
Meanwhile, the United States sought for more, that is up to 90 percent from Europe of reduce tariffs on farm imports from current 55 percent however, as European Union applies higher import tariffs than the United States, it would only harm European farmer interest in a disproportionate manner.
Minister from United States, the European Union, Brazil, India and Australia Talks will meet again next week to discuss the issue.
A series of talks on the subject began way back in in Doha, Qatar, in 2001, suppposed to reduce tariff on a range of goods and services, but agriculture which has been the mainstay, is proving to put a break at the arrival of any concrete solution, during the past few years.
The European Union was blamed for the failure of talks as rescinded from accepting concessions that the US sought in return for slashing farm subsidies at 60 percent.
Rob Portman, the US trade Representative was a thoroughly man at the end of the day, He said, "I'm disappointed because we haven't seen much progress on market access. Time is running out."
Meanwhile, upto 70 percent reduction in subsidies from 65 percent offered earlier, by the EU in no way indicated its willingness to meet the demands on tariff reductions.
US offers huge famr subsidies to its cotton farmers which has been objected by mainly Brazil which comprehensively won its case against the US in WTO, recently. Brazil argued that the system of offerrig subsidies encourages overproduction, which is dumped on global markets and depresses prices.
Meanwhile, the United States sought for more, that is up to 90 percent from Europe of reduce tariffs on farm imports from current 55 percent however, as European Union applies higher import tariffs than the United States, it would only harm European farmer interest in a disproportionate manner.
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