Ficci calls for reduction of farm subsidies at WTO
Business Standard, July 23, 2008

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) today called upon developed countries to reduce farm subsidies given by them, which results in distortion of global agriculture trade. The industry body also objected against carve outs given to developed countries on farm trade in the latest World Trade Organisation (WTO) draft text on agriculture.<<More>>

WTO majors move into sticking details of Doha Round
Xinhuanet, July 23, 2008

Ministers from three dozen major players in the World Trade Organization (WTO) got down to sticking details Tuesday in a crucial week-long effort to salvage the Doha Round of global trade talks.<<More>>

WTO negotiators battle on, differences still deep
Reuters India, July 23, 2008

Talks to save a global trade deal struggled into a third day on Wednesday with emerging economies like Brazil and South Africa saying the United States had not done enough on farming to justify moves by them.<<More>>

WTO Mini-Ministerial Day 2: Key negotiators to turn to numbers
WTO News, July 22, 2008

The first day of "Green Room" talks among a representative group of ministers produced no new ideas, but provided a clearer understanding of key issues and constraints, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy reported to a morning meeting of the full membership today. He said the discussions would turn to detailed negotiations based on present texts and numbers when the group met again in the afternoon.<<More>>

Trade powers struggle to save WTO round
Reuters, July 22, 2008

Talks to unblock a global trade deal focused on the United States on Tuesday amid hopes that Washington was ready to announce long-awaited plans for cutting farm subsidies. "The Americans say they will put their offer on the table this evening. How good that offer will be remains to be seen," a European diplomat said.<<More>>

South Africa's Statement to the WTO Trade Negotiating Committee
July 22, 2008

Let me at the outset indicate that the NAMA 11 Group of developing countries have issued a Communique outlining our common perspectives and positions on the Third Revision of the NAMA Modalities Text of 10 July 2008. That Communique is available in this room. Let me also indicate that South Africa fully endorses the positions articulated in the interventions made by Brazil on behalf of the G20, by Kenya on behalf of the Africa Group, and by Australia on behalf of the Cairns Group.<<More>>

India's absent minister weighs heavy on WTO talks: diplomats
AFP.com, July 22, 2008

Ministers are set to resume crucial trade talks here after a first day slammed as "totally useless" by Brazil, while diplomats said the absence of a key Indian minister continues to fuel uncertainties. Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is notably absent as he is in New Delhi as a crucial vote of no-confidence in the coalition of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was set to take place Tuesday. Basically Monday, Tuesday and possibly Wednesday would be more or less a waste of time since Nath isn't here. If the Indian government were to lose the vote on Tuesday, any deal that is made by the Indian delegation would also hold no water. That's the talk in the corridors," said one diplomat who declined to be named.<<More>>

EU commits to slashing farm tariffs at WTO talks
NDTV.com, July 22, 2008

The European Union (EU) is prepared to slash tariffs on agricultural imports by more than half, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Monday on the first day of a key round of talks in Geneva aimed at reviving the World Trade Organization's Doha Round. Mandelson said the EU was also prepared to cut agricultural subsidies to its farmers by almost 100 billion euros ($160 billion).<<More>>