Frantic efforts to find compromise to revive stalled world trade talks

FRANTIC efforts were being made in Geneva late last night to produce a compromise framework that would revive the stalled world trade talks before tomorrow night's midnight deadline.

Work was continuing on revising a widely criticised two week-old draft that calls for an end to farm export subsidies, substantial cuts in other forms of aid by wealthy countries to their farmers, and greater market access for both developing and developed countries.

WTO chief agriculture negotiator Tim Groser met with key players from the European Union, the United States, Brazil, India and Australia as he grappled with often-contradictory demands from different groups.

Mediators had been hoping to make a fresh bid for a breakthrough yesterday, but they said a new text might not be ready until early today. The central problem is farm trade reform, and the future of rich power subsidies.

The 147 WTO states have given themselves until tomorrow night to agree a deal setting out guidelines for more detailed future negotiations on farm and industrial goods, services and a customs code. However, rich and poor countries appeared to be as far apart as ever as the bargaining to salvage the talks headed towards the deadline. The central problem is farm trade reform and the future of rich power subsidies. About 30 ministers and senior officials, including US trade representative Bob Zoellick and EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, held bilateral meetings in Geneva.

Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh said final agreement on the terms of the new round is unlikely to be reached until well into next year.

He indicated that he was keeping in very close touch with the negotiations in Geneva and remained determined to protect the interests of the Irish agri-food sector and rural communities as the negotiations progress.

Mr Walsh said the European Commission negotiates in the WTO on behalf of the member states on the basis of a mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers. He will insist the Commission negotiates in accordance with its mandate. He will seek to support like-minded ministerial colleagues in the council to oppose any proposals which might be damaging to the CAP and to the interests of European and especially Irish farm families.