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Ministers from the member states of the WTO have failed to achieve a breakthrough, WTO chief Pascal Lamy has said. "There is still no convergence yet," WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell quoted Lamy as saying.
Lamy urged the key members to continue their negotiations, which focused on agricultural trade and industrial tariffs, in the next 24 hours to ensure "every chance" for success.
Trade and agricultural ministers from the US, the EU, Japan, Australia, Brazil, India and China worked overnight on July 23 for a compromise on the major issues that have blocked the Doha Round. Rockwell said the overnight talks made some progress but wide differences remained. He refused to give details.
Earlier, some trade ministers participating in the negotiations also cited slight progress, but they all admitted that difficulties remain and work remains to be done before gaps could be bridged.
According to Lamy's arrangement, key WTO members should reach agreement first, and then their agreement would be sent for approval by the full WTO membership. (Source: Thaindia.com)
July 25, 2008
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