Blair pleads for deal in world trade talks

Former UK premier Tony Blair says an agreement at this week’s crunch trade talks in Geneva would provide a “significant”  boost to the international economy.

Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Blair said a deal is particularly important at a time when the global economy faces “uncertainty and a decline in confidence.”

Negotiators in Geneva are aiming for agreement on liberalizing agriculture and manufacturing this week, so that the 153-member World Trade Organisation can clinch a final deal to reduce tariffs and subsidies by the end of the year.

The so-called Doha round trade talks have dragged out for seven years and many observers are skeptical as to whether an accord can be reached.

Blair said agreement among representatives of the 150 countries gathered in the Swiss city would provide a “significant boost” to economies throughout the world, adding, “Failure to reach a deal in Geneva would mean the reverse.”

He also expressed optimism that agreement will be reached at the UN framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC), the successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, due to be wrapped up at a UN summit in Copenhagen next year.

He said, “This (climate change) is a very, very tough issue and there are few, if any, matters which are as politically sensitive and complex.

“However, if we do not take steps now in order to reach an agreement in Copenhagen on tackling climate change we face an uncertain, unstable and dangerous future.”

Leaders at the recent G8 summit in Japan  moved only fractionally closer to a binding target on reducing carbon emissions, instead putting the onus on next year's negotiations in Copenhagen..

Blair was speaking at  a news conference at the commission’s Berlaymont headquarters after a brief working meeting with the executive’s president, Jose Manuel Barroso.

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