Agri-supports at risk in WTO talks

A REVISED draft of proposals aimed at rescuing global trade talks amid a rift between rich and poor countries over agri-supports is expected to be tabled in Geneva today ahead of a Friday midnight deadline.

An earlier draft, drawn up by WTO director general Supachai Panitchpakdi and general council chairman Shotaro Oshima of Japan, included the elimination of farm export subsidies, a key concern for Irish agri-business.

But critics in the EU claimed the document was more vague on other aspects of farm supports, particularly on US programmes, and demanded a redraft. Developing countries also said the farm text was still too soft on the rich countries and gives them too much leeway to protect whole areas of their agribusiness from sweeping cuts in import tariffs.