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WTO trade talks enters ninth day in tense atmosphere

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-29 22:33

GENEVA -- Crucial talks for a new global trade pact entered the ninth day Tuesday with the atmosphere was growing more and more tense amid a blame game triggered by the US verbal attack on emerging economies.

The closed-door negotiations resumed in the morning after a marathon bargaining session among the seven key members in the World Trade Organization (WTO), namely the United States, the European Union (EU), Japan, Australia, Indian, Brazil and China, dragged on into early hours of today.

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Emerging from late-night battling, Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath told reporters that the good news was the talks would continue, failing to note any progress.

Nath said he had been hoping for progress on issues such as a further reduction of farm subsidies by developed countries and the special safeguard mechanism, a measure for developing countries to protect their domestic farming from import surges.

"I am still hoping we will see some movement. I am still optimistic," Nath said.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson told reporters that the ministers had held "very intensive discussions."

"We work and will continue on what is a very, very complex and sensitive," he said.

Ahead of the meeting Monday evening, WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell painted a pessimistic picture of the ongoing negotiations, which had passed the planned schedule of one week.

"The situation is very tense. Things are finely balanced and the outcome is by no means certain," he said.

Tensions peaked Monday after the US pointed fingers at India and China, blaming the current deadlock on the two emerging economies.

"We are very much concerned about the direction that a couple of countries are taking," US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said.

She said one party was against an agreement worked out Friday night by a majority of the seven trading powers, while another was now "backtracking" on an earlier commitment.

Although she did not name the two countries, the US deputy head at the Geneva mission to the WTO, David Shark, pointed the finger at India and China.

"I am very concerned it will jeopardize the outcome of this round," Schwab said.

The accusation was immediately rejected by India and China.

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