US takes flak for Doha failure

The US came in for criticism yesterday from trade and diplomatic officials after extensive ministerial talks failed to break an impasse on framing a global tariff-busting pact.

Whether it is trade in commodities such as cotton or bananas or manufactured goods like cars and computers, the world's largest economy was singled out for holding up the Doha Round of negotiations to free up global commerce.

Although President Barack Obama was among leaders of the Group of 20 emerging and developed nations who endorsed a decision to seal the Doha Round by 2010, Washington still lacks political will to see the deal through, several international trade officials suggested.

The officials, speaking at the sidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in Geneva, said the Obama administration did not live up to expectations in "marketing" the Doha deal to the nation's powerful legislature.

"I think political will can only be demonstrated when you have the political support coming from inside your own country and this is something that I don't know whether one can really say that one sees this in the major negotiating parties," former WTO chief Supachai Panitchpakdi said.

A European diplomat was more direct, saying: "There is no sign today that the Americans are ready to go forward.

"They want more concessions for a more acceptable package (for the US Congress.) Now, the problem is to find a way without damaging what has been achieved so far," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Mr Obama himself had campaigned against free trade agreements signed under previous administrations before entering the White House in January. Three free trade pacts long signed with South Korea, Panama and Colombia gather dust in Congress.

The Obama administration is also grappling with a politically explosive health care problem at home as well as the war in Afghanistan.

The US top trade negotiator post at the Geneva mission to the WTO remains unfilled, raising questions on Washington's seriousness in working for a Doha success.