| The members of the World Trade Organization | | | | of delays. Mr. Mandelson said that the conditions set |
| (WTO) recently held a series of meetings in Geneva | | | | by the US in reducing its farm subsidies were not |
| in a final attempt to revive the Doha round of talks | | | | acceptable by the WTO members. But the US |
| and to reach a global trade deal. However, the WTO | | | | argued that it was committed to the negotiations. |
| nations have failed for the nth time due to | | | | Instead, it blamed the EU for not offering sufficient |
| irreconcilable trade differences among the key | | | | concessions in cutting its tariffs on agricultural |
| players of the negotiations. Initially, the WTO was | | | | products. |
| expected to come up with the outline of a free | | | | Considering the status of the trade talks, the WTO |
| trade deal this July. Then, the final agreement was | | | | members decided to cancel the negotiations this year. |
| scheduled to be signed by the members before the | | | | WTO Chief Pascal Lamy said that no global trade |
| end of 2006. But it seems the global trade bloc will | | | | agreement will be reached before the end of 2006. |
| not see any accomplishment this year due to | | | | This would leave more pressure to the international |
| unsettled disputes concerning agricultural subsidies and | | | | trade organization considering the relevance of time |
| import tariffs. | | | | in the talks. The members had been hoping to arrive |
| After the global trade talks had collapsed, the | | | | at a consensus this year before the special |
| European Union Trade Chief Peter Mandelson accused | | | | negotiating authority of US President George W. Bush |
| the United States for causing the latest of a series | | | | expires in 2007. |