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| Apec tackles stalled trade talks | Apec tackles stalled trade talks |
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| Asia-Pacific leaders have concluded a summit in Sydney with a statement that called for a rapid conclusion to long-running global trade talks. | Asia-Pacific leaders have concluded a summit in Sydney with a statement that called for a rapid conclusion to long-running global trade talks. |
| World trade liberalisation talks known as the Doha Round have dragged on for more than six years and are now said to have reached a crucial stage. | World trade liberalisation talks known as the Doha Round have dragged on for more than six years and are now said to have reached a crucial stage. |
| The 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) account for nearly half of the world's trade. | The 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) account for nearly half of the world's trade. |
| On Saturday, leaders agreed on the need for action to tackle climate change. | On Saturday, leaders agreed on the need for action to tackle climate change. |
| Map of key summit locations | Map of key summit locations |
| China and the US - two of the world's biggest polluters - were among the nations that signed the statement of "aspirational" goal to restrain the rise of greenhouse gas emissions. | China and the US - two of the world's biggest polluters - were among the nations that signed the statement of "aspirational" goal to restrain the rise of greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Australian Prime Minister John Howard called it "a very important milestone" towards an international deal. | |
| The declaration "is part of a process, the next element of which will be the meeting of major economies in Washington later this month, and then the United Nations meeting," he said. | |
| Environmentalists said the declaration was merely symbolic. | |
| Make-or-break | Make-or-break |
| The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Apec's members are impatient to break the current deadlock in the Doha Round of talks. | The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Apec's members are impatient to break the current deadlock in the Doha Round of talks. |
| There is a strong sense that it is a make-or-break moment. It may take a few weeks, but my sense is that there is a lot of focus and energy WTO chief, Pascal Lamy | There is a strong sense that it is a make-or-break moment. It may take a few weeks, but my sense is that there is a lot of focus and energy WTO chief, Pascal Lamy |
| Negotiators have been unable to reach agreement over two main stumbling blocks - the massive agricultural subsidies given to farmers in Europe, the US and Japan, and restrictive industrial tariffs in emerging markets like China, India and Brazil. | Negotiators have been unable to reach agreement over two main stumbling blocks - the massive agricultural subsidies given to farmers in Europe, the US and Japan, and restrictive industrial tariffs in emerging markets like China, India and Brazil. |
| Finance and trade ministers from Apec's member countries have already this week called for the free trade talks to be accelerated. | Finance and trade ministers from Apec's member countries have already this week called for the free trade talks to be accelerated. |
| Now the leaders have weighed in with a statement calling for the Doha Round to enter its final phase this year. | Now the leaders have weighed in with a statement calling for the Doha Round to enter its final phase this year. |
| The head of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy, has said negotiations currently taking place in Geneva may be edging closer to a deal. | The head of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy, has said negotiations currently taking place in Geneva may be edging closer to a deal. |
| "There is a strong sense that it is a make-or-break moment. It may take a few weeks, but my sense is that there is a lot of focus and energy," Mr Lamy said. | "There is a strong sense that it is a make-or-break moment. It may take a few weeks, but my sense is that there is a lot of focus and energy," Mr Lamy said. |
| He also gave a cautious "yes" when asked if there was an emerging consensus on farm subsidies and tariffs. | He also gave a cautious "yes" when asked if there was an emerging consensus on farm subsidies and tariffs. |
| The US Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, said she had detected a greater sense of urgency but also warned the talks could meander, linger and then go into hibernation. | The US Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, said she had detected a greater sense of urgency but also warned the talks could meander, linger and then go into hibernation. |
| Return to story | Return to story |