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OECD Wants DOHA talks saved
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The stalled Doha round of world trade talks can still be salvaged, the OECD has said. The case for farm and trade policy reform was "compelling". The EU protects its farmers from competition through steep import tariffs, while the US government pays around $20bn a year in farm subsidies.
Trade talks broke down in July amid ongoing disagreements over agriculture.
Members of the G20 group of emerging nations have demanded that wealthier countries take the lead in trying to re-energise discussions.
The OECD tried to take an optimistic lead by saying that any agriculture breakthrough would mean most countries stood to gain - "and many significantly".
The OECD said its analysis showed agricultural tariffs and price support mechanisms "do a poor job" of providing income support for farm families, encouraging sustainable economic development, maintaining healthy rural communities, or protecting the environment.
It said governments should move from price and production-related support - to policies that "directly target what they want to achieve".
And it believes that if a breakthrough can be achieved in agriculture then open trade arrangements may be achieved in other economic sectors.
The Doha round of talks at the WTO was intended to favour poorer nations but the likelihood of securing a hoped-for agreement by the end of the year look very slim.
Negotiators have agreed to meet in Geneva later this year but no major breakthrough is expected before November's US congressional elections.
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econmod
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Oct 11, 2006, 10:27 PM
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