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| Dismay at collapse of trade talks | Dismay at collapse of trade talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| International trade negotiators have expressed their disappointment at the failure of the latest talks in Geneva aimed at liberalising global trade. | International trade negotiators have expressed their disappointment at the failure of the latest talks in Geneva aimed at liberalising global trade. |
| China said the collapse was a serious setback for the world economy, while the EU described it as "heartbreaking". | China said the collapse was a serious setback for the world economy, while the EU described it as "heartbreaking". |
| The negotiations foundered because the United States could not agree with China and India on import rules. | The negotiations foundered because the United States could not agree with China and India on import rules. |
| But the World Trade Organization chief, Pascal Lamy, said he would not abandon his efforts to find an agreement. | But the World Trade Organization chief, Pascal Lamy, said he would not abandon his efforts to find an agreement. |
| The main stumbling block was farm import rules, which allow countries to protect poor farmers by imposing a tariff on certain goods in the event of a drop in prices or a surge in imports. | The main stumbling block was farm import rules, which allow countries to protect poor farmers by imposing a tariff on certain goods in the event of a drop in prices or a surge in imports. |
| India, China and the US could not agree on the tariff threshold for such an event. | India, China and the US could not agree on the tariff threshold for such an event. |
| Washington said that the "safeguard clause" protecting developing nations from unrestricted imports had been set too low. | Washington said that the "safeguard clause" protecting developing nations from unrestricted imports had been set too low. |
| Damage limitation | Damage limitation |
| Ministers had struggled for more than a week to reach a consensus on a trade pact, with talks finally breaking down on Tuesday. | Ministers had struggled for more than a week to reach a consensus on a trade pact, with talks finally breaking down on Tuesday. |
| It's too early to say but the bottom line is we can't give up - we have too much at stake India's envoy, Ujal Singh Bhatia The end of Doha dreamsQ&A: Crunch trade talks | It's too early to say but the bottom line is we can't give up - we have too much at stake India's envoy, Ujal Singh Bhatia The end of Doha dreamsQ&A: Crunch trade talks |
| The "Doha Round" was launched in 2001 with the aim of lifting millions out of poverty. But Mr Lamy said "members have simply not been able to bridge their differences". | The "Doha Round" was launched in 2001 with the aim of lifting millions out of poverty. But Mr Lamy said "members have simply not been able to bridge their differences". |
| He said: "We will need to let the dust settle a bit... WTO members will need to have a sober look at if and how they bring the pieces back together." | He said: "We will need to let the dust settle a bit... WTO members will need to have a sober look at if and how they bring the pieces back together." |
| EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson described the result as a "collective failure". | EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson described the result as a "collective failure". |
| He said that it was now necessary to "make sure the damage is contained", and to work "as hard as possible to restore that confidence" in the WTO. | He said that it was now necessary to "make sure the damage is contained", and to work "as hard as possible to restore that confidence" in the WTO. |
| US trade representative Susan Schwab said the US would "stand by our current offers" and that it hoped to return to a negotiations where there was "more ambition on the table". | US trade representative Susan Schwab said the US would "stand by our current offers" and that it hoped to return to a negotiations where there was "more ambition on the table". |
| India's envoy to the talks, Ujal Singh Bhatia, said the "bottom line is we can't give up", while China said WTO members should "learn a lesson" from the failure. | India's envoy to the talks, Ujal Singh Bhatia, said the "bottom line is we can't give up", while China said WTO members should "learn a lesson" from the failure. |
| Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim insisted that the negotiations were not dead. | Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim insisted that the negotiations were not dead. |
| "We have a good package, a package that would be positive for world trade," he said. | "We have a good package, a package that would be positive for world trade," he said. |
| Complications | Complications |
| Over the years, the talks have repeatedly collapsed as developed countries failed to agree with developing nations on terms of access to each others' markets. | Over the years, the talks have repeatedly collapsed as developed countries failed to agree with developing nations on terms of access to each others' markets. |
| America's top trade negotiator Susan Schwab on the talks | America's top trade negotiator Susan Schwab on the talks |
| The US and the European Union want greater access to provide services to fast-growing emerging countries, including China and India. | The US and the European Union want greater access to provide services to fast-growing emerging countries, including China and India. |
| Meanwhile, developing countries want greater access for their agricultural products in Europe and the US. | Meanwhile, developing countries want greater access for their agricultural products in Europe and the US. |
| Analysts have said that the collapse of the Doha talks could symbolise an end to multilateral trade agreements. | Analysts have said that the collapse of the Doha talks could symbolise an end to multilateral trade agreements. |
| Instead, nations may pursue dual agreements with partner nations, preferring to focus on their own requirements rather than a more common negotiating goal. | Instead, nations may pursue dual agreements with partner nations, preferring to focus on their own requirements rather than a more common negotiating goal. |
| The talks in Geneva were complicated by recent increases in the price of food and fuel. | The talks in Geneva were complicated by recent increases in the price of food and fuel. |
| Higher prices have prompted protests in both developed and developing nations, making it harder for negotiators to reach a compromise on opening up their markets to greater competition, analysts said. | Higher prices have prompted protests in both developed and developing nations, making it harder for negotiators to reach a compromise on opening up their markets to greater competition, analysts said. |
What is your reaction to the collapse of the trade talks? Where do the negotiators go from here? Send us your comments using the form below. | What is your reaction to the collapse of the trade talks? Where do the negotiators go from here? Send us your comments using the form below. |