Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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US, EU Want to Restart Doha Round of Trade Talks
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=15B2B42:A6F02AD83191E160B986587092BFAD949574F7DCC14957C0 But, President
Bush and visiting EC president did not say whether they had reached
any agreement on cutting agricultural subsidies, a key stumbling block
in talks  The U.S. and Europe agree on the need to promote global
trade by successfully concluding the Doha Round of world trade talks.
But during talks in Washington, U.S. President George Bush and the
visiting European commission president did not say whether they had
reached any agreement on cutting agricultural subsidies, a key
stumbling block in the trade talks. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from
the White House.







President Bush, (r), meets with EC President Jose Manuel Barroso in
the Oval Office of the White House, 8 Jan 2007President Bush and Jose
Manuel Barroso both stressed the need to revive the stalled Doha round
of world trade talks. But, following hour-long discussions at the
White House, the two men did not say whether they had agreed to any
steps to facilitate the resumption of talks, which broke down in July
over agricultural subsidies.

Mr. Bush nevertheless stressed their shared commitment to liberalizing
global trade.

"We both recognize that the best way to help impoverished nations is
to complete this Doha round, to encourage the spread of wealth and
opportunity through open and reasonable and fair trade," he said.

The so-called Doha Round of world trade talks has been stalled for six
months. U.S. and European subsidies to farmers are widely regarded as
a primary stumbling block. Other agricultural producing nations,
particularly in the developing world, have complained that their
farmers can not compete with artificially-low prices.

Sitting next to President Bush in the Oval Office, President Barroso
said time is short, if trade talks are to progress.

"The most crucial factor is the successful negotiation for Doha," he
said. "This is not just about trade, it is also about development. We
are really at a defining moment."

He added that, if the EU and the United States take a global approach
to trade and development, it will send an "important signal" to the
rest of the world.

Mr. Barroso said EU officials will work with their American
counterparts to find a way forward. He said the U.S.-EU trade
relationship is the world's most important, and urged even-deeper
trans-Atlantic economic cooperation.


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