Bali was the forum for the first round of meetings with key players in global trade talks last week, amid mounting concerns over protectionist measures announced by the white house.
Speaking at the gathering of 19 major farm exporting countries in Bali, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the global economic crisis was putting pressure on countries to protect their economies, while at the same time underlining the need for greater trade liberalization.
" Leaders should show their commitment," she told reporters.
" Everybody knows the United States and India are the most important players in terms of setting the tone and providing how far the [Doha]agreement can go. The new administrations on both sides are providing a fresh perspective in how they see this global issue can be solved."
At the event, US trade Representative Ron Kirk met World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy and recently appointed indian Trade Minister Anand Sharma.
Disagreements-primarily between india and United States over tariffs-coused the last series of negotiations between WTO ministers to collapse in Geneva in July, plunging the fate of the broader Doha Round into uncertainty.
Developing countries, including China and India, want the industrialized world to scrap agricultural export subsidies, while Western powers are seeking greater access for their products in emerging markets.
Sharma said it was time to "pick up the pieces from where they are and move forward. We are not looking at difficulties, we are looking at the possibilities, to do our best and take this process to its culmination," he said.
"there are no obstacles which are insurmountable. We have to create an understanding and trust. There have to be adaptations and adjustments, that is what negotiations are meant for."
The Indian minister said he would go to Washington this month for follow-up talks. The talks were taking place on the Cairns Group of major farm exporters, which includes Australia, Brazil and Canada.
The group has called for a fresh start to the Doha Round and condemned rising protectionism, including a new trade war between the United States and Europe over dairy export subsidies.
The WTO talks, which started at the end of 2001 in the Qatari capital, aim to boost global comnerce by removing trade barriers and subsidies.
The 19-nation Cairns Group accounts for about 25 percent of world farm exports and advocates cuts to all tariffs and the elimination of export subsidies.
Resource: Shipping Gazette
