Thread: EU urges U.S. to seize opportunity for Doha deal

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/0701 ... _eu_usa_dc

EU urges U.S. to seize opportunity for Doha deal
Fri Jan 5, 8:24 AM

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union urged President Bush and the new Democrat-dominated Congress on Friday to show leadership in reviving the Doha trade round, saying there were now the makings of a deal.

This required a "genuine and serious" offer on reducing U.S. farm subsidies and developing states also needed to bring something to the table, an EU spokesman said before a visit by EU President Jose Manuel Barroso and Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to Washington for talks with Bush next week.

"Our pitch to him will be that this is a very important moment that should be grasped," Mandelson's spokesman Peter Power told a regular news briefing. "Real leadership should be shown ... there are the makings of a deal on the table."

Power said that while there had been protectionist rhetoric during U.S. elections in November, the Democrats now dominating the U.S. Congress were "by and large multilateralists."

"The Democrats have an opportunity to show leadership," he added.

Angela Merkel, chancellor of current EU president Germany, said after talks with Bush on Thursday that a "window of opportunity" for reaching a world trade agreement was closing fast.

The five-year-old Doha talks over global trade subsidies and barriers were halted in July after major powers locked horns over politically sensitive issues, especially calls to dismantle agricultural protection.

Lets hope they keep fighting among themselves until we get that "Window Closed".