China says EU, US obstacles biggest 'sticking point' in Doha round

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2007

BEIJING (AFP) — Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai said Monday the biggest "sticking point" in the Doha Round of global trade liberalization talks are obstacles put up by the United States and European Union.

Bo said the talks had addressed issues of concern to developed countries such as the protection of intellectual property rights but he noted that progress has not been made on farm aid.

"As to the biggest sticking point in the Doha Round talks, in short, the EU and US, the largest trade nations in the world, did not make substantial concessions on key agriculture issues," Bo told a briefing in Beijing.

He said these include high duties on agricultural imports, subsidies for EU and US agriculture and "enormous support" for domestic agricultural products....