US 'concerned' about some countries' direction on WTO talks

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

GENEVA (AFP) — The United States is "very concerned" about the direction taken by certain countries at negotiations here on a global trade deal, warning that it could "jeopardise" the outcome of the talks.

"We're very much concerned about the direction that a couple of countries are taking," said US Trade Representative Susan Schwab after a five-hour meeting with representatives from India, China, the European Union, Australia, Brazil and Japan.

Schwab said one party was against an agreement worked out by a majority of the group on Friday night, while another was now "backtracking" on an earlier commitment to the group of seven leading trade powers.

Schwab did not name names, but in a morning session, the United States accused India and China of threatening...