With the publication of the new drafts, Lamy said he would be sampling the reaction of members. “With these revised texts we are closer to our goal of clinging modalities in agriculture and industry, a stepping stone towards the conclusion of the Doha Round,” he said. Lamy acknowledged that differences remained amongst members, and that while the “areas of discord are few in number, they involve politically sensitive issues.

“However, the modalities step would send a signal that all WTO members stand united to face the challenges of the current economic crisis,” he said, urging member states to make “collective moves towards global solutions.” The Doha round of talks, which started at the end of 2001 in the Qatar capital, aims to boost international commerce by removing trade barriers and subsidies but a deal has so far proved elusive as countries are reluctant to open up their markets or reduce financial support to farmers. Key sticking points reflected in the revised text include a so-called sectoral initiative, which proposes specific industry sectors to be submitted to sharper tariff cuts than the overall general level of reductions. — AFP