`Group of 20' and EU issue a surprise statement on trade

"It's known that the US also poses a problem," French foreign trade minister Francois Loos said.

Loos pointed out that Brazil exports 40 percent of its farm products to Europe and only 10 percent to the US.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also raised the idea of a G20 free trade zone. That was not included in the communique, but Lamy called it an interesting notion.