WTO talks collapse in Geneva
Updated
![Some officials described the meeting at the WTO's Geneva HQ as a last chance for the Doha trade round. [Getty]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/swi_wto_afp_290708.jpg "Some officials described the meeting at the WTO's Geneva HQ as a last chance for the Doha trade round. [Getty]")
Some officials described the meeting at the WTO's Geneva HQ as a last chance for the Doha trade round. [Getty]
After nine days of talks to salvage the Doha global trade pact, the high level summit's broken down - after the United States, China and India failed to compromise on farm import rules.
Some officials had described this meeting at the WTO's Geneva headquarters as a last chance for the so-called Doha trade round that was launched in 2001.
Talks have repeatedly collapsed as developed countries have failed to agree with developing nations on terms of access to each others' markets.
Negotiators were hoping for a deal this week on farm and industrial trade, so the trade talks could be saved.
But a United States dispute with China and India over farm import safeguards effectively ended any hope of a breakthrough.
The issue concerns a "special safeguard" developing countries have demanded to deal with a sudden surge of imports or drop in prices.
Indonesia disappointed
Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu has expressed deep disappointment at the collapse of world trade talks, saying that developing countries had been willing to compromise to get a deal.
She says they were all ready to compromise and regret the opportunity to negotiate never came.
Indonesia is co-ordinator for the G.33 group of developing countries.
Ms Pangestu says she didn't understand why the so-called Special Safeguard Mechanism issue was insurmountable, and that it was a very reasonable request and open to compromise.
