Lula calls for fairer trade deal

Brazil's president is due to hold talks with Tony Blair on Thursday

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a three-day state visit to the UK, has insisted on the need to reach a global trade agreement.

During a speech at the House of Lords, he stressed that, without a generous and fair deal, conditions would deteriorate in many countries.

The Brazilian leader is to meet UK Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday.

Mr Blair said that he would raise a far more ambitious proposal to help developing nations.

Differences over agricultural subsidies have stalled global trade talks.

Developing countries want rich nations to lower farming subsidies, but the US and the EU insist that poor nations must open their markets to more non-agricultural goods.

The World Trade Organization members face a 30 April deadline to agree on formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting subsidies.

The talks between the Brazilian and UK leaders take place ahead of a trade ministers meeting starting on Friday in London.

'Friendly talks'

Earlier on Wednesday, President Lula da Silva met London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

It is not known whether they talked about the killing by police of a Brazilian man in London last year.

Charles de Menezes was shot on 22 July last year, when officers mistakenly believed him to be a suicide bomber.

Mr Livingstone's office said the meeting had been "warm and friendly".

It added the two had discussed how to strengthen links between Brazil and the British capital, which is home to many Brazilian immigrants.

On Tuesday, Lula attended a state banquet in his honour at Buckingham Palace, where Queen Elizabeth praised the strength of relations between Brazil and Britain.