Trade dialogues between G8, emerging economies: Merkel

Even as the World Economic Form has just begun, there are emerging signs of a life after WTO. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced efforts for 8220;new forms of dialogue8221; between G8 leading industrial nations and emerging economies like Brazil, India and China.

She set these goals for Germany8217;s Presidency of the G8 this year in the opening address to the WEF Annual Meeting. She said the G8 summit in Heiligendamm next June would seek to launch this new dialogue, which would be continued in other global institutions. She specifically named Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, India and China as partners.

Merkel8217;s comments are of significance with the uncertainity over the success of Doha round of WTO which was suspended following a standoff between developed and developing nations over agri subsidies. Calling for a resumption of the Doha Development Agenda on trade liberalisation, Merkel said agriculture could not be the only focus of concentrated effort.

8212;ENS with agencies