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This round of the Doha talks failed over the issue of farm tariffs and subsidies. (Image: China News Service)
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Agriculture, Doha's stumbling block
"China has fully demonstrated flexibilities and constructiveness, and sincerely hoped to reach a successful Doha Round through working together with other members." Chen Deming on CRI
"China's objection to a compromise proposal on farm tariffs and subsidies, presented in talks at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, appeared to set back hopes of closing a deal in the so-called Doha Round." The Wall Street Journal
Last week, the Doha Round of global trade talks ended inconclusively after the negotiating countries failed to solve the issue of farm import tariffs. Facing pressure to lower their tariffs, China and India called off the game, saying they are not capable of any more concessions.
At the Doha talks in Geneva last week, the trade and agricultural ministers from 35 major WTO members tried to negotiate a framework for a new farm imports tariff system without success. The United States, India and China refused to compromise over measures to protect farmers in developing countries from greater liberalization of trade.
At the meeting, the US accused China and India, of jeopardizing the talks by insisting on protecting their farmers and industries, Keral.com writes. China, in turn, said that rich nations were pushing developing countries into special deals on certain sectors while reserving the right to protect sensitive agricultural products, the BBC writes. In a bid to salvage the talks, China's commerce minister Chen Deming appealed to all parties to assume responsibility and seek a compromise acceptable to all, but no agreement was reached this time, CRI says.
Xinhua attributes the failure of the trade talks to the US refusal of the reduction of the ceiling on the amount of domestic subsidies to its farmers, and to the clashes between the rich and developing countries.
The collapse of the talks ended, for the time being, any hopes of a global deal to further open markets, cut farm subsidies and strengthen the international trading system, The New York Times says.
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| China | Europe | North-America | From elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Dismisses Developed Nations' Accusations in WTO Talks as "Groundless" CRI - 29th July 2008 The Chinese delegation dismissed as "groundless" the accusations made by some developed countries regarding China's position in the Doha Round of trade talks. China Expresses "Deep Regret" over Trade Talks Failure CRI - 31st July 2008 Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said Tuesday that he felt "very disappointed and regrettable" at the failure of crucial WTO talks. Chinese ambassador: U.S. finger pointing dangerous for Doha Round Xinhua - 28th July 2008 The United States should show flexibility instead of threatening developing countries, to avoid a failure of the Doha Round trade negotiations, the Chinese ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) said. Beijing says it is free to set high tariffs China Economic Review - 29th July 2008 China said it has a right to set high tariffs on rice, sugar and cotton at multilateral trade talks in Geneva. Who impede Doha talks? People's Daily - 31st July 2008 A nine-day World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting aimed at developing agriculture and non-agriculture modalities for a Doha round deal has collapsed. |
India blamed for Doha collapse by trying to protect poor farmers Times Online - 30th July 2008 Global trade relations slumped to a new low today after the US and Europe blamed India's efforts to protect its army of poor farmers for the collapse of the Doha round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks. Bid to salvage world trade talks BBC - 29th July 2008 Negotiations aimed at rescuing a deal to liberalise world trade are going into a ninth day after delegates failed to resolve deep differences. American clash with India and China threatens Doha talks Telegraph.co.uk - 31st July 2008 Hopes that a deal on world trade would be achieved in the next 48 hours have been dealt a blow by a row between the US and India and China over who bears responsibility for the current impasse. Disagreement over farm imports threatens Doha trade talks Radio86 - 29th July 2008 Heated debate broke out in the Doha round of trade talks over measures permitting developing countries to protect their farmers from rising imports. |
After 7 Years, Talks Collapse on World Trade The New York Times - 30th July 2008 World trade talks collapsed after seven years of on-again, off-again negotiations, in the latest sign of India’s and China’s growing might on the world stage and the decreasing ability of the United States to impose its will globally. China Objection Threatens Trade Deal The Wall Street Journal - 29th July 2008 China abandoned its longstanding place on the sidelines of multilateral trade talks. WTO Talks May Unravel as India, China Refuse Support, U.S. Says Bloomberg - 28th July 2008 World Trade Organization talks may collapse because India and China have refused to support a compromise deal worked out in the last few days, the U.S. said. Doha's Demise The Washington Post - 30th July 2008 The global trade negotiations known as the Doha Round broke up yesterday without an agreement. |
Rudd keen to 'breath life' into Doha talks ABC News, Australia - 31st July 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he will be looking at ways to revive the collapsed world trade talks when he visits China next week. Failed Doha talks heat climate task The Australian - 31st July 2008 Despite the best efforts of deniers, there are depressing similarities between the Doha talks on free world trade and negotiations for an international agreement on what to do about climate change. US slams China, India for jeopardising Doha talks Keral.com - 29th July 2008 The United States slammed China and India, saying they were threatening seven years of work on a new global commerce pact. |
