EU urges concessions from emerging nations in WTO talks

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

BRUSSELS (AFP) — EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson urged developing countries on Tuesday to yield ground in crunch World Trade Organisation negotiations.

"The emerging economies must now engage in a serious negotiation," Mandelson told the European Parliament's foreign trade panel.

Last week, the WTO submitted new proposals on agriculture and industry to its 152 members in an effort to revive the stalled Doha round of trade liberalisation talks, launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001.

Ironing out differences in farm and industrial goods areas has long dogged negotiators while the pace of talks on services is also considered to have lagged.

Europe is demanding greater market access on industrial goods from emerging countries and is...