European economic giants Germany and France warmly welcomed a deal on Sunday to salvage world trade talks but China complained developing countries were not satisfied and an environmental group hit at "empty promises". German Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement said the 147-member World Trade organization (WTO) had grasped the opportunity and achieved "a substantial step forward in world trade talks". French Agriculture Minister Herve Gaymard told France Info radio it was a good and balanced accord that "consolidates the European common agricultural policy and does not question the reforms decided a year ago". Trading powerhouse China was more stinting in its praise. "Generally speaking, the framework (agreement) is not bad, though the developing countries are not fully satisfied," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Sun Zhenyu, China's ambassador to the WTO, as saying. Sun, who spoke in Geneva where the accord was worked out on Saturday, did not elaborate, but said China had played a positive role in promoting the negotiations. The agreement holds out hope for a final pact that would cut tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, slash farm subsidies in rich countries and make it easier for financial and service industry firms to work across borders. It puts talks back on track after a bitter collapse nearly a year ago in Cancun, Mexico that pitted developing countries like Brazil and India against rich WTO members such as the United States and the European Union. --more 1502 Local Time 1202 GMT
