Jul 9, 2008

WTO: Some Titbits

Reuters are reporting that a new agriculture text is due to be tabled by New Zealand WTO Ambassador Crawford Falconer.

Falconer told reporters after briefing WTO members on recent talks that the new text would not contain any major surprises.
"There'll be some structural changes and some other changes but I don't think there's anything that's a quantum leap," he said.


Meanwhile at the G8

Leaders of rich countries will press counterparts from China, Brazil and other emerging economies on Wednesday to help rescue a global trade deal, less than two weeks before the negotiations face a critical test.
The heads of the Group of Eight nations, including the United States, Japan and Europe's biggest countries, urged developing countries to keep the World Trade Organisation's Doha round of trade talks alive by making last-ditch offers on industrial goods and services.
"This could be the last chance to seal a deal and we should not miss it," said Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Union's executive Commission.