Global trade talks 'could resume by March'

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Global trade talks 'could resume by March'

BRUSSELS, EU - The European Union trade commissioner Pascal Lamy said yesterday that the emerging global consensus on the need for swift new trade negotiations made it increasingly likely that talks on the Doha trade round would be resumed as early as March or April.

Mr Lamy's claim follows news this week that he has received endorsements from the ten-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and India to restart global trade talks.

Robert Zoellick, the US trade representative, surprised many by pushing for a resumption of negotiations despite the pending US presidential elections, with many encouraged by the enthusiasm of the world's biggest super power.

Mr Lamy commented: “There is, I think, a global consensus that we better start as soon as possible, and this comes both from the developing countries' side and our side.”

Mr Lamy also suggested that positions were gradually narrowing on issues like agriculture, industrial tariffs, trade facilitation and services.

However, Mr Lamy said it was important to retain some scepticism over the seeming emergence of a new-found global consensus, saying “it is only with a proper negotiation and a proper negotiating process starting in Geneva that you'll check whether this is reality.”

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