A clash between the United States and two big emerging markets, China and India, over cutting farm and industrial tariffs threatened to derail more than a week of work to salvage a world trade deal today. "We are very much concerned about the direction that a couple of countries are taking," US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said during a break on the eighth day of World Trade Organisation talks. "I am very concerned it will jeopardise the outcome of this round," she told reporters.
"We are very much concerned about the direction that a couple of countries are taking," US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said during a break on the eighth day of World Trade Organisation talks.
"I am very concerned it will jeopardise the outcome of this round," she told reporters.
Nine of the European Union's 27 member states, including Ireland, have formed an alliance to press for better terms for the EU in compromise proposals being discussed at global trade talks. An Italian government spokesman said this evening that the group wants to "improve the negotiating basis proposed by [World Trade Organisation chief] Pascal Lamy in order to protect the interests of European businesses and citizens". The nine countries are: France, Poland, Hungary, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Lithuania, Cyprus and Italy, he said.
An Italian government spokesman said this evening that the group wants to "improve the negotiating basis proposed by [World Trade Organisation chief] Pascal Lamy in order to protect the interests of European businesses and citizens".
The nine countries are: France, Poland, Hungary, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Lithuania, Cyprus and Italy, he said.
