VALLETTA, Malta - Commonwealth leaders today stressed that the farm subsidies issue must be sorted out if any concrete progress was to be made in the next round of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks to be held in Hong Kong next month. It was this vexed issue that dogged the so-called Doha round of talks and unless there is a satisfactory solution, even this round could be a failure.
At the heart of the issue is the generous subsidy to agricultural products that is offered by the European Union. "We call on all developed countries to demonstrate the political courage and will to give more than they receive ... particularly in the negotiations on agriculture and market access, as their own longer term prosperity and security depends on such an approach," Commonwealth leaders issued a statement after a round of talks in Malta.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is entrusted with the EU Presidency this time, said that unless a deal was reached in Hong Kong, there were tough times ahead. "It is important that the Commonwealth sends a strong signal of support for the Doha Round," Blair told reporters after holding another delicate round of negotiations. He said that failure to do so would be nothing short of a disaster for both developed as well as developing countries.
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who is under the scanner for the riots back in his home country, was quite categorical in stating that the EU subsidies were "sinful." The President put an opposition leader behind bars and that was what triggered the riots. But he was in his elements when talking tough of the farm subsidy issue. The EU did ensure a 36 percent cut in sugar support prices, something that has not one down well with the Caribbean nations. Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon was happy that the block was united at this critical moment, "Leaders are effectively saying: 'Let's see something better from the EU,'" he said.
That effectively puts the ball back into the EU's and more specifically Tony Blair's court. The next few days will be a sure indicator as to the direction the Hong Kong meet is likely to take. Watch this space.
Posted
on : Mon, 28 Nov 2005 04:05 GMT | Politics News
By : Anne Philips
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