WTO working on trade talks as deadline approaches

DOHA, Qatar -- With a deadline looming, movement on two issues important to the United States raised hopes Monday that the World Trade Organization would clinch a deal allowing a new round of global trade talks to get under way. \nProgress was reported on the text of a document that would assure poor countries that WTO rules protecting patents on pharmaceuticals developed by big drug companies in the West don't prevent them from responding to public health crises like AIDS. \nOn the fourth day of a five-day meeting, officials also said they moved forward on another hot-button issue for Washington: tightening anti-dumping rules, which are used to block imports sold below the market price, usually because of state subsidies in the country of origin. \nTrade ministers from the WTO, which sets international trade rules, have given themselves until Tuesday night to complete a final declaration and launch the new round of global trade talks. \nIf they fail, the Qatar talks could be a repeat of the last meeting, in Seattle in 1999, where differences proved insurmountable, blocking a new round of talks and plunging the WTO into crisis. \nRich countries say agreement on a new round would give the faltering world economy a much-needed boost. Developing countries are demanding more market access for their textiles and agriculture products and recognition that some past pledges of help have yet to be fulfilled. \nSix negotiators who have been leading discussions aimed to hammer out agreements between individual countries began meeting late Monday to produce a document combining the three declarations trade ministers plan to issue on Tuesday.\n"I suspect that there will be very little sleep had by those working on this text," said WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell. \nOne of the declarations would set out the issues to be discussed in a new trade round. While it would not commit countries to open their markets further now, it is considered crucial because it would serve as the road map for the global talks that would likely take years to complete. \nBringing the most difficult issues together in one document will for the first time allow negotiators from the 142 WTO member countries to look at where they can compromise in return for getting what they want elsewhere. \nMost European Union countries might accept stronger language calling for reductions in agricultural export subsidies if trade ministers will agree to consider issues relating to protection of the environment, officials said. \nThey suggested developing countries are less prepared to budge on environmental protection, but might accept EU proposals to start negotiations on the rules relating to investment and competition policy in return for the stronger text denouncing export subsidies. \nSwitzerland, which wants to protect its pharmaceutical industry, said it might consider developing countries' demands to be allowed to override patents to protect public health if it gets its way in areas such as the environment, reduction of tariffs on industrial goods and protection for goods known by the place where they are produced, like Gruyere cheese. \n"It all depends on the overall package," said senior Swiss negotiator Luzius Wasescha. \nWith time running out, disputes persisted. \nFor instance, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said that while the United States is willing to put the export credits U.S. farmers receive "on the table," the EU still insists on keeping export subsidies. \nWTO Director-General Mike Moore said there were "still too many areas of substantial differences" to guarantee an agreement on a new round of trade talks. \nOthers were optimistic that a deal could be reached. \n"We are in a slowdown economy, on the brink of recession,\" said Morocco's ambassador to the WTO, Nacer Benjelloun. "Less than a good deal is better than no deal"