WTO chief warns of crisis at Doha Round talks

World Trade Organization (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy warned on Friday that the Doha Round of global trade talks was facing a crisis as no players wanted to move first to break the current deadlock.

"We are putting at risk the future of the Doha Round, the WTO, and the multilateral system itself," Lamy told a session participated by ministers and heads of delegations of all 149 WTO members.

He indicated that things must be turned around radically in the next few days, otherwise the Doha Round would be in danger of failure.

Some 60 ministers are currently in Geneva for days of intensive negotiations in order to salvage the talks, which were launched nearly five years ago with an aim to slash trade barriers and help poor countries' economic development.

But so far none of the major players such as the United States, the European Union (EU) and heavyweight developing countries have shown willingness to yield first to break the deadlock, which has blocked the talks for years.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab on Friday ruled out the possibility for a further U.S. offer on reducing domestic farm subsidies, which is demanded by both the EU and major developing countries such as Brazil and India.

Schwab insisted that the United States had already put forward a good enough offer and the ball was now in the courts of the EU and developing countries, who face pressure to cut tariffs.

"We are caught now in this position of everyone waiting for someone else to go first," Lamy told Friday's session. "The challenge for all members is to exhibit the political courage needed," he said.

WTO ministers and heads of delegations are scheduled to continue their negotiations until Sunday, but some diplomats have complained that it is pointless to go on if the current situation remains unchanged.

According to a practical timetable set at last year's ministerial conference in Hong Kong, China, the whole round of talks must be concluded by the end of this year.

Source: Xinhua