Call for world trade deal to cut food prices

SOUTH AFRICA’S President Thabo Mbeki, and finance ministers in Britain and Germany have called for conclusion of a world trade deal in order to reduce food prices.

Britain’s Alistair Darling called for a deal that improves access by poor countries to developed-country markets and cuts distortion subsidies in rich countries.

Germany’s Wieczorek-Zeul said fully opening markets in rich countries to imports would lead to greater food security in developing countries by making it more worthwhile for them to cultivate agricultural produce.