G8 calls for rapid resumption of Doha trade talks
Afp, Heiligendamm
The Group of Eight nations called Friday for a rapid resumption of the Doha round of world trade talks, which have been stalled for a year on the issue of agricultural subsidies. It was a "subject of the greatest possible importance," in particular with a view to "safeguarding fair trading conditions for developing countries," G8 host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, wrapping up three days of talks here. "We're now entering into a truly decisive phase," Merkel said, adding that she felt "a high degree of willingness" within the G8 to reach a solution to relaunch the talks. In a joint declaration issued at the end of the summit, the world's richest nations -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States -- said they "expect negotiators to make all necessary efforts ... to achieve a breakthrough in time." The six-year-old negotiations over the Doha round of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks were resuscitated in early 2007 after stalling a year ago.
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