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 The BBC's Paul Reynolds"Something of a disaster for the World Trade Organisation"  real 28k  Keith Rockwell, WTO spokesman"The progress made here will not be lost"  real 28kPaul Reynolds in Seattle"A failure here wraps up a disastrous week for the WTO" real 28k |
World trade talks collapse
Anti-WTO protests continued on the final day of the talks |
Talks between ministers at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Seattle have ended in failure after countries were unable to agree an agenda for a new trade round.
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Many other delegates leaving the negotiations - between representatives of 135 nations - agreed with her.
The talks were extended for hours beyond their scheduled close on Friday night before Ms Barshefsky decided the cause was hopeless, saying there was no "feeling of consensus".
She said members had agreed that it would be best to have a break from the talks and to "consult with one another and try to find a creative means to finish the job".
Charlene Barshefsky: brought talks to end |
Many delegates said the agreement the WTO had set itself four days to reach was an impossible one - and there were swift recriminations.
A senior official from Zimbabwe, expressing a general view among the developing nations, said the failure was a good thing.
 It's the beginning of the blame game  |
| A Canadian delegate |
Non-governmental pressure groups Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth also celebrated the collapse of the talks.
Sticking points
Agriculture has been a sticking point, with the European Union being pressed to make deeper cuts in its food export subsidies than it was prepared to accept.
Some EU officials privately blamed the looming US presidential election for the host nation's failure to give ground.
Labour standards also proved extremely contentious. The US and EU wanted some discussion of issues such as child labour in the WTO.
But a BBC correspondent in Seattle says poorer nations thought this was intended to undermine the competitive edge they derived from lower wages.
It would be best to take a time out |
| Charlene Barshefsky |
Instead it is likely that meetings of smaller groups of nations, or trading blocs, will take place next year in an effort to resolve outstanding concerns.
Such meetings had taken place ahead of Seattle, but had failed to settle disputed issues such as farm subsidies.
Decisions hard to make
It has not been a good year for the WTO, whose members failed to agree earlier this year on who should be its new director general.
It was only after months left leaderless that a compromise deal was reached whereby the two favoured candidates would share the job by doing half a term each as director general.
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See also: |
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04 Dec 99 | Battle for Free Trade |
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WTO tarnished by Seattle failure |
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01 Dec 99 | Battle for Free Trade |
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Seattle trade talks timeline |
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04 Dec 99 | Business |
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Anti-WTO protesters claim victory |
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03 Dec 99 | Business |
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The waiting game |
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03 Dec 99 | Business |
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Farm fight follies |
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02 Dec 99 | Americas |
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Eyewitness: The Battle of Seattle |
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02 Dec 99 | Business |
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WTO tackles the internet |
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02 Dec 99 | Americas |
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Seattle police tactics under scrutiny |
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23 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade |
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Free trade flashpoints |
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Internet links: |
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WTO |
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Anti-WTO action page |
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European Union Trade Directorate |
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US Trade Representative |
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