Time ticking away for resumption of world trade talks, says Blair

WORLD leaders have less than three weeks to restart farm trade talks with a view to finalising negotiations by the end of the year, according to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He said “headline numbers” would have to be agreed by the G8 meeting in Germany next month. Mr Blair recently discussed the trade talks with US President George Bush. He said Mr Bush’s mandate to strike a deal expires at the end of June and he was not optimistic that it would be renewed.