Lauwe reacties op voorstel exportsubsidies te beperken (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - An offer to cut farm export aid has received a cautious reception among developing countries and anti-poverty campaigners.

Trade representative Pascal Lamy on Monday announced that the EU has sent a letter to other members of the World Trade Organisation offering to eliminate agricultural export subsidies, in a bid to kick-start stalled World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.

Mr Lamy told journalists in Brussels today that, with the offer, the EU has shown it is "ready to go the extra mile" in order to conclude half of the so-called Doha round negotiations by the end of this year.

His comments come ahead of a 'mini-ministerial' meeting of WTO members in Paris later this week, which is hoped will provide a breakthrough.

The deal is, however, contingent on other major WTO players such as the United States cutting all forms of export subsidies for agricultural products.

The EU has long complained that the US has misused food aid and export credits as hidden subsides.

It is now demanding that its offer is matched by a similar US offer.

Breakthough?

But although the letter - which has been the subject of extensive discussion in Geneva - appears to be a breakthrough, developing countries appear to have given it a muted response.

"That is already in the Doha mandate", one Kenyan trade diplomat told the EUobserver, pointing out that it was foreseen that these talks would lead to the "reduction of, with a view to phasing out of all forms of export subsidies".

"Who is going to start first, the US, the EU, that is what we want to know", the diplomat said.

Kenya is one of Africa's many net importers of food.

The move received a warmer welcome from leading fair trade campaigners, Oxfam International.

"Export subsidies exacerbate poverty in the developing world by enabling EU farmers to dump their excess produce overseas at prices that undercut local producers", Jo Leadbeater of Oxfam International Brussels said in a statement.

"A genuine offer to eliminate all export subsidies would be cause for great celebration. The European Union must make this pledge a reality as soon as possible".

WTO members will meet in Paris on Friday.