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Bid to salvage world trade talks Trade talks 'at risk of collapse'
(about 1 hour later)
Negotiations aimed at rescuing a deal to liberalise world trade are going into a ninth day after delegates failed to resolve deep differences. Crucial talks in Geneva on liberalising global trade appear to have run into serious trouble, with the US at loggerheads with India and China.
A spokesman for the World Trade Organization said the talks in Geneva had reached a "very tense" stage. The US said India and China had put the talks in Geneva "in gravest jeopardy" by failing to agree on trade terms.
The US accused China and India of insisting on too much protection for their farmers and industries. A World Trade Organization spokesman said that after eight days, the talks were at a "very tense" stage.
Sources close to the negotiations say that if progress is not made soon the talks could collapse. Talks went on late into the night, in an attempt to avoid a breakdown, and are due to continue for a ninth day.
Sources close to the negotiations suggest that if progress is not made soon the "Doha round" of talks could collapse.
Backing outBacking out
Discussions which continued late into Monday night failed to resolve a dispute that has put a deal in serious doubt. The BBC's Theo Leggett in Geneva says the future of the round depends on the extent to which developing countries can protect vulnerable industries from competition if imports rise to harmful levels.
The BBC's Theo Leggett in Geneva says the future of the "Doha round" - launched in 2001 - depends on the extent to which developing countries can protect vulnerable industries from competition if imports rise to harmful levels.
Their actions have thrown the entire Doha round into the gravest jeopardy of its nearly seven-year life David Shark, US trade official Q&A: Crunch trade talksTheir actions have thrown the entire Doha round into the gravest jeopardy of its nearly seven-year life David Shark, US trade official Q&A: Crunch trade talks
The dispute has pitted India and China against the United States.The dispute has pitted India and China against the United States.
On Monday US trade official David Shark criticised India for rejecting the package and China for backing out of the terms it agreed to last week.On Monday US trade official David Shark criticised India for rejecting the package and China for backing out of the terms it agreed to last week.
He accused them of being overly-protective towards their own farmers and failing to do enough to open their markets.He accused them of being overly-protective towards their own farmers and failing to do enough to open their markets.
"Their actions have thrown the entire Doha round into the gravest jeopardy of its nearly seven-year life," Mr Shark said."Their actions have thrown the entire Doha round into the gravest jeopardy of its nearly seven-year life," Mr Shark said.
China hit back by saying that rich nations were pushing developing countries into special deals on certain sectors while reserving the right to protect sensitive agricultural products.China hit back by saying that rich nations were pushing developing countries into special deals on certain sectors while reserving the right to protect sensitive agricultural products.
India's envoy, Ujal Singh Bhatia, told AFP news agency that the US accusation was unfair and that the US only made the claims because it was "not achieving its aims". India's envoy, Ujal Singh Bhatia, told AFP news agency that US accusation was unfair and that the US only made the claims because it was "not achieving its aims".
India insists Washington is promoting the interests of rich countries at the expense of efforts to combat poverty.India insists Washington is promoting the interests of rich countries at the expense of efforts to combat poverty.
Bananas
Meanwhile nine European Union countries led by France are demanding greater access to developing countries.
France said the deal being worked out in Geneva was unacceptable, as it failed to show any real progress to protect European industrial interests in the face of emerging economies.France said the deal being worked out in Geneva was unacceptable, as it failed to show any real progress to protect European industrial interests in the face of emerging economies.
China and India fear rich countries will have unfair access to their markets Bananas
Talks appeared on the brink of collapse last week but WTO chief Pascal Lamy was able to broker a proposed settlement between seven key trading nations late on Friday.Talks appeared on the brink of collapse last week but WTO chief Pascal Lamy was able to broker a proposed settlement between seven key trading nations late on Friday.
The deal calls for cutting the limit on European farm subsidies by 80% and US payments by 70% to about $14.5bn (£7.25bn). China and India fear rich countries will have unfair access to their markets
The deal calls for cutting the limit on European farm subsidies by 80% and US payments by 70% to about $14.5bn.
However, this would not mean the US would have to cut its actual spending on support to farmers, which totalled about $9bn last year.However, this would not mean the US would have to cut its actual spending on support to farmers, which totalled about $9bn last year.
The compromise proposal also involves cuts in tariffs on agricultural imports and on industrial goods.The compromise proposal also involves cuts in tariffs on agricultural imports and on industrial goods.
It also involves the EU offering 80,000 temporary visas a year for working in the services sector.It also involves the EU offering 80,000 temporary visas a year for working in the services sector.
In another area of contention, former European colonies have threatened to block a trade deal to reduce the EU's controversial tariffs on Latin American banana imports.In another area of contention, former European colonies have threatened to block a trade deal to reduce the EU's controversial tariffs on Latin American banana imports.
The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) trade grouping said the 35% cut agreed by EU and Latin American officials on Sunday was unacceptable.The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) trade grouping said the 35% cut agreed by EU and Latin American officials on Sunday was unacceptable.
EU officials have been trying to review the special trade deals with about 80 ACP countries, which have been in place since the 1950s.EU officials have been trying to review the special trade deals with about 80 ACP countries, which have been in place since the 1950s.
These deals have allowed a range of products, including banana crops from ACP states, to enter the EU with no duty to pay, while Latin American exports were charged.These deals have allowed a range of products, including banana crops from ACP states, to enter the EU with no duty to pay, while Latin American exports were charged.