The EU is seeking to abolish agricultural subsidies on a range of exports to developing countries but only if the United States and others do the same, EU trade commissioner Mr Pascal Lamy said today.
In an article published in today's Financial Timesnewspaper a day before the key World Trade Organization (WTO) trade talks get under way in Cancun, Mr Lamy said the EU offer on subsidies was "fair".
Mr Lamy refused to divulge what products the EU might be considering but said they were still open for discussion. Officials hope the target for reaching a global trade deal by the end of 2004 can still be achieved if countries can agree a framework for reforming agricultural trade - the issue of greatest importance for the most of the WTO's 146 members.
More than 100 WTO members will hold their ministerial meeting between September 10th and 14th to discuss further lowering of barriers within the Doha Round of talks.
The round was begun in the Qatari capital at the end of 2001 and is due to finish in 2004.