The European Commission hit back at US criticism of its role in world trade talks today, accusing the United States of making "a running commentary of insults" against Brussels.
A top US trade official said the success of the World Trade Organisation's Doha round was in the hands of the EU, India and other "protectionists" trying to divert attention from themselves by making demands on Washington.
A spokesman for EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, said the bloc was keen to seek a deal in negotiations to rescue the round later this month, and was close to the position of developing countries.
"The EU will go into these end-July talks with a strong sense of where a deal can be done," he said.
"If others are prepared to enter this landing zone which is broadly shared by the EU and developing countries, we have a chance of success. But this will take detailed engagement, not a running commentary of insults aimed at the U.S.'s negotiating partners," he added.
The WTO's Doha round was launched in 2001 in an attempt to tackle poverty and boost the global economy.
But it is now two years behind schedule and risks a delay of several more without a breakthrough in the next few weeks.
The EU and the United States blame one another for not making enough moves on agriculture to free up the round. Brussels also says Washington's demands on the EU and other countries are far too aggressive.
Ministers and officials from the EU, the United States, India, Brazil, Australia and Japan on Monday scheduled new meetings on July 23-24th and July 28-29th in Geneva after world leaders agreed to step up their push for a WTO deal.
The lead US agriculture negotiator Jason Hafemeister said Washington could not offer more cuts in farm subsidies until the EU and other countries dropped their "stone wall of protectionism" and agreed