Trade ministers split over Doha Round deal

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GENEVA, Dec 1 (AFP): Ministers at a key World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting moved on Tuesday to bridge a gap between emerging and developed nations which has long delayed a global trade pact ahead of a 2010 deadline set by world leaders.
The two sides appear unwilling to offer concessions over the level of cuts to agriculture subsidies and industrial product tariffs that had caused an eight year stalemate in the Doha round of global trade liberalisation talks.
But some ministers remain optimistic that differences could be narrowed.
"There are domestic and strong expectations and strong political will to conclude the Round, and people will come forward with constructive suggestions," Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean told reporters.
As the three-day WTO ministerial meeting began Monday, the United States called on developing countries to make "meaningful market opening" but Brazil said it was "unreasonable" to expect emerging countries to be the only ones making further concessions in order to secure a Doha accord.
WTO chief Pascal Lamy, in his opening remarks, warned ministers and senior officials from 153 member states that time was not on their side even though about 80 percent of the deal had been clinched.
"Time is running out, and it is not credible at this stage to see issues in isolation from the work and the achievements of the past eight years," Lamy said.
World leaders, including those in the key Group of 20 emerging and developed nations, have pledged to conclude the Doha Round by 2010 but progress has been lacklustre.