大象传媒

Movement on trade?

• Tim Weber
• 25 Jan 07, 04:16 PM

Yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (currently chair of the G8 group of industrialised nations and holder of the EU presidency) called on all sides to show more flexibility to end the stalemate in the global trade talks.

So it may be no surprise that EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson was dropping hints today that the European Union may put a better deal for developing nations on the table; on Saturday, the about 30 trade ministers here in Davos will meet behind closed doors to explore whether they can break the deadlock.

Will this provide the breakthrough that is needed? In July US President George W Bush will lose his fast track authority, and then the US Congress has the right to take any trade deal apart, line by line.

So far nobody is optimistic that a breakthrough is possible. India鈥檚 trade minister Kamal Nath is still putting on his best gloomy face and speaks of stalled negotiations.

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