Fischler cautions on world trade talks

WORLD trade talks resume in Switzerland next Monday, with EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler saying the EU remains prepared to shoulder a bigger burden in making agriculture markets more open.

“We have put on the table a comprehensive strategy how to kick-start the talks”, he said.

But he warned that without properly addressing the complexities of farm support and without tackling protectionism and trade barriers, a fair World Trade Organisation deal will not be possible.

Talks collapsed last September when African countries refused to negotiate on world investment and competition issues.

But the Cairns group of agricultural exporting countries was also reported to be refusing to reopen talks on agriculture, believing the subsidies deal on the table was too favourable for the protected markets of the EU and the US.