Europe has worked hard to prepare the way for a deal.
The EU is ready to pay in more to get a good result and I have set our conditions for doing so: a deal that is balanced across all of the main negotiating areas and does not just focus on EU cuts in agricultural spending.
I am working hard with my counterparts - with Pascal Lamy in Geneva, with Rob Portman and Susan Schwab in Washington, and with the representatives of the groups of developing and advanced developing countries - to secure a successful deal that works for all of us.
The clock is ticking.
But there is no reason why the Doha talks should not succeed. NGOs that suggest that developing countries should contemplate walking away from the Doha talks are wrong.
For developing countries a successful round means the opportunity to lock in farm reform in the developed world, open new markets for their exports and develop new trade among them. It can produce new multilateral agreements on rules that benefit them and aid that will boost their capacity to trade.
These things are all on the table. For the developing world to walk away from that table would be a huge mistake. It is worth remembering too that this is a round for free for the 50 least developed countries – any advances that are made will be for no cost on their part.
Beyond Doha, I announced three major initiatives that will shape the trade agenda in the second half of this year...
•A tough approach to open markets and application of the rules.
marketing@alchempro.com
