WTO Trade Talks Collapse in Mexico

Sunday, September 14, 2003

(4:45 PM ET)

By Niko Price

Associated Press Writer

“Developing countries have put forward many constructive proposals,” the statement read. “That these have been almost completely ignored shows the WTO continues to operate in business-as-usual mode, with the EU and the United States calling the shots.”

CANCUN, Mexico -- AP
Talks designed to change the face of farming around the world collapsed Sunday amid differences between rich and poor nations, the second failure for the World Trade Organization in four years.

“It's over,” said George Odour Ong'wen, a Kenyan delegate. “The differences were very wide, and it was impossible to close the gap.”

Developing nations saw the talks as a way to end rich countries' agricultural subsidies that make it hard for them to compete in the globally. European nations and Japan were intent on pushing four new issues that many poor countries saw as a distraction.

In the end, it was the diverging agendas of 146 member countries that split delegates beyond the point of repair.

“The blame for the collapse must go to the Western countries, because they insisted on putting their issues first,” said Yasphal Tondon, a delegate from Uganda.
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2003 © The Associated Press.

Dan