The United States believes countries can set a date this week to eliminate agricultural export subsidies, despite EU complaints others have not moved far enough, US Trade Representative Rob Portman said on Friday.
"I hope we can do export subsidies. I think there's still a shot at that," Portman told Reuters in an interview at a World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong, where countries hope to make progress toward a final free trade deal by the end of 2006.
The European Union, which spends more to support its farmers than any other trading partner, agreed in July 2004 to eliminate export subsidies after years of resisting. The United States, Brazil and many poor countries want the EU to agree at the WTO meeting to a 2010 deadline for the cut-off.
"To set a date at this meeting would send a great signal, particularly to the developing countries," Portman said. Brussels, along with Washington, also wants Canada, New Zealand and Australia to reform their state-trading enterprises (STEs) which have monopoly rights to export certain commodities.
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