Attempt to Revive WTO Negotiations Falters

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GENEVA -- The World Trade Organization has failed to revive negotiations that stalled three months ago, possibly killing any chance of meeting a 2005 deadline for an accord that would pump $500 billion into the world economy.

When discussions broke down Sept. 14, WTO members agreed to try to reach an agreement this week on how to revive their attempts to lower border barriers to goods and services. Since then, any sense of urgency has been lost, said Carlos Perez del Castillo, Uruguay's senior diplomat who is chairman of the talks.

"We have witnessed little real negotiation, or movement toward accommodation among positions, or searching for common ground," del Castillo said in a statement to ambassadors at the Geneva-based organization. "Gaps remain wide."

Developing countries including Brazil, India and China rallied for the first time at the September meeting in Cancun, Mexico, to demand better market access for their exports. They refused to act on proposals to develop new WTO rules for investors and customs simplification until the U.S. and European Union slash domestic farm aid.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/12/16/254.html