Secretary Johanns, back from Hong Kong, predicts difficult year ahead
The chance of success for long-stalled World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations depends on the European Union changing its position on reducing agricultural tariffs, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns says. While the ministers at WTO talks in Hong Kong agreed to set a 2013 deadline for eliminating agricultural export subsidies, he says, they left the most difficult challenges for 2006. (complete text)
2013 deadline set for eliminating agricultural export subsidies
Trade ministers meeting in Hong Kong have accepted an agreement that incrementally advances long-stalled World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations but leaves most politically difficult decisions for 2006. The final declaration eliminates agricultural export subsidies by 2013 and requires the provision of duty-free and quota-free market access for most products from the 32 least-developed countries "by 2008 or no later than the start of the implementation period" of any negotiated agreement. (complete text)
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