CANCUN (Mexico) - There is a growing suspicion among poor nations that the outcome of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference in Mexico has been pre-arranged by the United States and the European Union.
The trade summit has seen a heated conflict between the US and Europe over each other's promises to reduce subsidies and tariffs that protect their farmers and manufacturers.
But their verbal jousting, however, has been increasingly regarded by the developing world as little more than shadow play to preserve the advantageous status quo for the US and EU.
Not only do American and European protectionist measures help their own, already affluent producers, but they also undercut their counterparts in the world's poorest nations.
Mr Barun Mitra, an official with the India-based Liberty Institute, who is here in Cancun, said: 'The US will not budge on agriculture. The EU may give a little. But it is essentially all shadow boxing. That way, they can all go home and say they held their ground.'
This unjust situation has been castigated by all sides, including the rich nations themselves, who have vowed to reduce their combined US$320 billion (S$563 billion) in farm subsidies.
Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry George Yeo, who is the facilitator for agriculture at Cancun, said: 'The hundreds of billions of dollars of subsidies spent every year by the developed countries make a mockery of the global trading system which developing countries are constantly being asked to support.'
Removing that 'mockery' has proved difficult, and poor nations now doubt the sincerity of the US, EU and Japan to take real action in slashing subsidies.
So far, at least in public, all sides in the dispute have been holding their ground.
Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz said: 'Negotiations in agriculture remain contentious and continue to be at an impasse.'
Owing to the stalemate, trade ministers at Cancun decided simply to try to produce a framework for dealing with agriculture - and to leave the details to be worked out later.
As facilitator, Brigadier-General (NS) Yeo has the key task of attempting to get all sides to agree on the framework.
After continuous dawn-to-dusk consultations with all parties, he will recommend a plan on how to proceed on the contentious issues.
Deputy US Trade Representative Peter Allgeier said: 'We will then begin to vet these issues and start the real negotiating process.'
Whether that will lead to a meaningful framework appears doubtful, despite a professed desire to do so.
The developing countries remain sceptical because the draft framework has no deadlines or figures for cutbacks in subsidies and tariffs.
The G-21 group, led by India, Brazil and South Africa, put forward a counterproposal demanding more strictly monitored cuts in subsidies and deeper tariff reductions.
The US and EU promptly attacked the G-21 group in what was viewed as a further shadow play diversion.
Those from the poor nations believe the shadow play may end with a compromise agreement that allows the US and the EU to remain in the driving seat of world trade.
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