A British minister has strongly criticised President Obama for failing to do more to kick-start stalled world trade talks.
Gareth Thomas, who is representing Britain in the latest round of negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), said that US inaction on the Doha talks was deeply disappointing.
The latest ministerial meeting of the WTO began in Geneva this week with a warning from Pascal Lamy, its director-general, that time was running out for a new global deal to scrap trade tariffs.
Ron Kirk, the US Trade Representative, insisted yesterday that America was “ready to move into the endgame” on the talks, which began in 2001.
British officials are privately dismayed that the Obama Administration has failed to send a full negotiating team to Geneva. They fear that President Obama has decided not to “stand up to” the US farm lobby which is demanding that subsidies on commodities such as cotton should stay in place.
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In a sign of the depth of Britain’s frustration, Mr Thomas, the Minister for International Development, risked serious diplomatic tension with its closest ally. He warned that America’s stance was harming the world’s poor and business.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Thomas said: “It is deeply disappointing that the US has not felt more able to engage in the Doha negotiations.
“A solid Doha deal would create a fairer, freer global market which could offer millions in the developing world a route out of poverty.
“There would also be huge benefits for UK and US businesses, which is why it is doubly frustrating that the American business community has not yet felt the need to get involved.”
British officials believe that the political difficulties of scrapping farm subsidies will increase markedly ahead of next year’s US mid-term elections.
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“We need to build momentum now if we are to reach an agreement by next year’s deadline,” Mr Thomas added. “A fair, ambitious Doha deal is still very much a possibility. However, we must start building the momentum now.”
The US defended its position last night, insisting that emerging economies must do more to lift their own protectionist measures.
Mr Kirk said: “The creation of new trade flows and meaningful market opening, particularly in key emerging markets, is required to fulfil the development promise of Doha.”