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the little guys are starting to push back Brazil leads hard line on farm trade reform call Developing countries have adopted an uncompromising stance on the critical issue of farm trade reform ahead of the World Trade Organisation's ministerial meeting that begins in Cancún, Mexico, on Wednesday. Ministers from 20 poor countries, led by Brazil, will meet tomorrow in Cancún to co-ordinate their approach during the five-day talks in support of their call for deep cuts in high tariffs and subsidies maintained by the European Union and other industrialised nations. Brazil's backers include some of the most influential developing-country voices in the WTO, including India, China and South Africa. Between them, the 20 countries account for more than 60 per cent of the world's farmers and a sizeable share of agricultural trade. Brazil, one of the world's largest agricultural exporters, has warned that without a clear commitment to change farm policies in the industrialised world there can be no progress on other issues at Cancún.
These include lowering barriers to trade in industrial goods and deciding whether to pursue negotiations on investment rules, which the EU and Japan have made a central priority but which is opposed by India and most other developing countries. thanks to The Agonist |