EU Offers Brazil WTO Olive Branch

BRASILIA - Apr 27/04 - SNS -- European Union (EU) Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler believes developed nations should not be asked to give as much in the coming rounds of World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural trade talks, while the developing world should move quicker to reduce its agricultural subsidies.

In the WTO Talks, Fischler said, "We also propose that all industrialized states grant completely free access to at least 50% of their imports from Brazil and other developing countries. Brazil should also have the right to cut its tariffs and trade distorting farm subsidies by considerably less than developed countries and over a longer period."

On the issue of trade distorting export subsidization, the Commissioner claimed that the EU was open to sit down and talk about a phasing out of "all" forms of unfair export subsidies for products of interest of developing countries.

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