GENEVA, Dec 3 (AFP): WTO member states risk missing the 2010 target set by world leaders for reaching a global trade pact after a ministerial meeting made little progress towards ending an impasse plaguing negotiations.
"For the moment, my sense of the pace of the negotiations is that at this pace, concluding in 2010 will be a challenge. That's the reason to accelerate," World Trade Organisation Director-General Pascal Lamy said at the end of a three-day ministerial conference of the trade body's 153 member states.
Lamy added that the end of the first quarter was "probably the last moment in 2010 when the breakthrough" in talks could allow a deal to be sealed by the end of next year.
The United States in particular came in for criticism from trade and diplomatic officials, who noted that Washington was holding up progress on negotiations.
In response, the United States said it was now the turn of trade-driven advanced developing nations to make efforts to move talks forward.
"The question now is the willingness of our partners to engage in a meaningful way," said Ron Kirk, the US Trade Representative.
March breakthrough needed for 2010 Doha deal
FE Team | Published: December 04, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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