每日时讯英文阅读：Disputes threaten Doha round

Last minutes jockeying? I dont know, what I do know is that there's no free lunch, no one-sided rights or obligations.

Disputes threaten Doha round

By Alan Beattie and Frances Williams in Geneva

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Heated public disagreements broke out yesterday between the main parties in the so-called “Doha round” of trade talks, as negotiators fought to maintain the unexpected momentum gained over the weekend.

Open disputes between the US, China and India soured the mood of optimism that grew after broad acceptance of an outline deal on Friday.

Peter Mandelson, European Union trade commissioner, said yesterday the talks in Geneva were at a “difficult and complicated” stage but the will to succeed remained. Officials said the divisions were serious, but it was unclear whether they were simply last-minute jockeying.

The US sharpened its warning that India and China risked collapsing the meeting by continuing to insist on special protection to shield farmers from international competition. Susan Schwab, US trade representative, said: “There is a real threat to the delicate balance that we achieved on Friday night and I'm very concerned that it will jeopardise the outcome.”

India said it still did not agree with some of the detail, notably the terms of a mechanism that allows it to raise tariffs to protect farmers. China accused the US of hypocrisy for asking Beijing to open its cotton market without guaranteeing big cuts in subsidies to its own cotton farmers.

France, which holds the presidency of the EU but has been at loggerheads with Mr Mandelson, said the deal was not acceptable.

The seven core negotiating partners – Japan, Australia, Brazil, China, India, the US and the EU – resumed their meeting last night after breaking to consult with their capitals. Several ministers have warned that the current ministerial meeting would be the last chance to make progress for at least a year.