On Thursday, Johanns said that the United States, in addition to its previous proposal, would increase its “Aid for Trade” grants this year from US$1.34 billion to US$2.7 billion by 2010.
In his comments, Johanns also said that the European Union had not responded positively to its two-month old proposal on agricultural reform.
On Friday EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that it had not proposed a final date for eliminating agricultural export subsidies because others "are not even at first base" with reforms.
"For the EU to offer a final date for eliminating export subsidies before others have even made equivalent commitments to reform would be senseless," said Mandelson.
On Thursday, the EU commissioner said Europe would not change its stance. The EU has already said it would offer an average cut of 46 percent in farm tariffs.
“We are going to stick to our position,” he said, according to AP. Mandelson wants greater industrial trade opportunities in exchange for more agriculture concessions from poorer nations.
Christian advocacy group Bread for the World took part in the talks with US President Bush and the US Secretary of State two weeks ago. It has sent a delegate to Hong Kong who is monitoring developments and is also working together with five or six other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to draft a statement assessing the talks at the end of the meeting on Sunday, according to the organization’s spokesman John Brennan. Organisations include National Catholic Rural Life and Oxfam America.
"As negotiations continue, Bread for the World remains cautiously optimistic that an agreement to help trade for developing nations will be the outcome of the meeting," he added.
Francis Helguero
Christian Today Correspondent
