Trade negotiators argue about scope of Doha meeting

By Jonathan Lynn

GENEVA (Reuters) - Big differences are emerging on what ministers should cover when they meet in the next few weeks to discuss an outline deal to open up world trade, a meeting of trade negotiators heard on Thursday.

Diplomats from 151 countries working at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreed that the long-running Doha round should be concluded this year, officials said.

That implies a meeting of ministers around Easter to agree the headline issues like the size of tariff and subsidy cuts, to leave officials time to fill in the details by the end of 2008.

A group of key ministers gave the Doha talks new impetus last week when they agreed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, against a background of concern about the global economy, to meet in March or April with a view to reaching a final trade deal that would add confidence by the end of this year.

Ministers are also keen to wrap up a deal while President George W. Bush is still in the White House, as the new U.S. administration taking office next year will need at least 6 months to settle in and not be able to focus on a trade pact.

All WTO members agree the meeting of ministers at Easter must focus on the key sectors of agriculture and industry.

But many countries want the meeting to lay down firm guidelines on other sensitive issues, such as the liberalisation of the services sector, or rules on unfairly priced imports.