G20 urges WTO farm deal by April
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-13 15:08

SIDETRACKED?

But American farmers warned U.S. negotiators not to get sidetracked by development issues such as a duty-free deal for poor countries, which Brussels has said must be at the heart of this week's agenda. They urged them instead to focus on clearing up differences over how to cut import duties on farm products.

"There are so many proposals on the table and competing demands. Reaching a decision on one without resolving the others is not the way we'd like to see our agricultural negotiators proceed at this time," said Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute.

The United States has offered to slash its domestic agricultural supports by 60 percent and eliminate export subsidies if the EU offers "ambitious" tariff-cutting plans.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Tuesday the U.S. offer on export subsidies was meaningless.

"The U.S. Trade Representative doesn't have any export subsidies to phase out...so it's very generous of him to make that commitment," he told a briefing session.

"What he does have is rather a large amount of fake food aid and export credits. If he were to give a commitment on that it would be rather more interesting," Mandelson said.

The United States donates food aid to poor countries in the form of goods purchased from American farmers. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said didn't understand the EU "obsession" with food aid."

"We have got to take full advantage of this meeting to advance development through meaningful market access so we can complete the Doha round by next year," he said.