APEC ministers aim to prod trade talks

"We want to see the EU come back with a better market access offer that's going to be crucial to a successful meeting in Hong Kong."

Alexander Downer, Australian foreign minister

Pacific Rim trade ministers agreed yesterday on a statement aimed at reviving stalled global trade talks, but stopped short of naming the EU as the main stumbling block in negotiations, officials said.

Breaking a deadlock in the WTO over subsidies in the heavily protected farming sectors of Europe and some other developed countries has become a key focus of the APEC forum meeting in Busan, South Korea.

Trade and some foreign ministers from APEC's 21 member economies held a special meeting yesterday with WTO chief Pascal Lamy, and later agreed on the wording of a special statement on the issue that they will hand to APEC leaders for their annual summit on Friday and Saturday.

"We want to see progress on agriculture, we want to see the EU come back with a better market access offer that's going to be crucial to a successful meeting in Hong Kong," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters.

Philippine Trade Minister Peter Favila said ministers finalized the statement to be sent to leaders. Its tone was "subtle" and "couched in such a way without pinpointing to any economies," Favila said.

APEC officials are worried the trade round could collapse if progress is not made at the Dec. 13-18 Hong Kong meeting and a "powerful statement" from the leaders.

Chile's top diplomat said Europe would not be singled out for criticism in the statement, but called on the region to take a bold stance.

"We expect from Europe leadership," said Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker said, adding that British Prime Minister Tony Blair's most recent comments on the issue were "quite encouraging."

Blair, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, on Monday challenged the US and the EU to take the steps needed to ensure the Hong Kong talks are a success.

"We need a comprehensive, ambitious agreement to cut barriers to trade in the three key areas: agriculture, nonagricultural market access and services," Blair said in London.