Bush, head of EU commission discuss trade differences

Jan 8, 2007, 20:26 GMT

Washington - US President George W Bush met with Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday for discussions aimed at bridging differences on an international accord aimed at lowering trade barriers to help developing countries.

The United States and European Union have been unable to overcome disagreements over farming subsidies and tariffs when the last round of international negotiations took place in Geneva in July.

'We both recognize that the best way to help impoverished nations is to complete this Doha round and to encourage the spread of wealth and opportunity through open and reasonable and fair trade,' Bush said, referring to the capital of Qatar which hosted the first round of the World Trade Organization negotiations in 2001.

Barroso emphasized the need to move quickly on reaching deal and said that he and Bush ordered their negotiators to reach a 'solution as soon as possible.'

'We are really at defining moment,' Barroso said.

The pact seeks to make it easier for developing countries to export products to richer nations like the United States and those in Europe.

The current dispute led to a suspension in July of the talks. Earlier Monday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Berlin that he believes there is still a chance of a breakthrough.

'Despite all the difficulties, we have embarked on a path that makes an agreement appear possible,' Steinmeier said after talks with the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Pascal Lamy.

Bush and Barroso also discussed the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Iran, Syria, Iraq and the ethnic conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.