Brazil and India blocked a deal on agricultural trade worked out late last week between European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and US Trade Representative Rob Portman to accept a simple 'Swiss' formula to cut industrial tariffs
The informal trade ministerial meeting in Dalian, China, on Tuesday and Wednesday will solicit input from some 30 trade ministers on the structure for a market access formula in nonagricultural market access along with thresholds for tiers
A 'bold course of action' to bring services negotiations on par with agriculture and market access for industrials in the ongoing Doha Development Agenda is needed
Panitchpakdi on Friday called on members in an informal meeting to 'immediately change gear' in the negotiations, stressing that 'progress is nowhere near sufficient in terms of our critical path to Hong Kong'
