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G8 leaders commit to trade liberalization by end-2004
Evian (France), June 02: Group of Eight leaders, anxious to kickstart global trade talks, reiterated a commitment here today to easing or eliminating barriers to world commerce by the end of 2004.
Evian (France), June 02: Group of Eight leaders, anxious to kickstart global trade talks, reiterated a commitment here today to easing or eliminating barriers to world commerce by the end of 2004.
Their statement, due to be issued at the close of a
morning working session at a G8 summit, comes as trade
liberalization negotiations launched under world trade
organisation auspices in the Qatari capital Doha in 2001 are
deadlocked.
"We are... committed to delivering on schedule, by the end of 2004, the goals set out in the Doha Development Agenda, and to ensuring that the Cancun ministerial conference in September takes all decisions necessary to help reach that goal," the statement said.
Government officials and trade analysts had voiced fears that the Doha-based talks, as well as a WTO ministerial review conference in Cancun, Mexico from September 10-14, could be jeopardized in disputes over agricultural export subsidies and the provision of generic drugs to poor countries.
The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States pledged to work toward "an agreed framework for finalizing the negotiations to achieve further substantial opening of trade in all areas, including in agricultural and non-agricultural goods, and in services.."
While both the United States and the European Union committed themselves in Doha to phasing out export subsidies, they continue to differ on the scope and pace of their elimination. Bureau Report
"We are... committed to delivering on schedule, by the end of 2004, the goals set out in the Doha Development Agenda, and to ensuring that the Cancun ministerial conference in September takes all decisions necessary to help reach that goal," the statement said.
Government officials and trade analysts had voiced fears that the Doha-based talks, as well as a WTO ministerial review conference in Cancun, Mexico from September 10-14, could be jeopardized in disputes over agricultural export subsidies and the provision of generic drugs to poor countries.
The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States pledged to work toward "an agreed framework for finalizing the negotiations to achieve further substantial opening of trade in all areas, including in agricultural and non-agricultural goods, and in services.."
While both the United States and the European Union committed themselves in Doha to phasing out export subsidies, they continue to differ on the scope and pace of their elimination. Bureau Report