Talks between U.S. President George W. Bush and E.U. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso concluded Tuesday with friendly rhetoric but no visible signs that the two sides had come closer to an agreement to cut agriculture subsidies. DPA reported The two leaders met at the White House and, in remarks to the press, praised the relationship between the U.S. and the E.U. It was the first time in 16 years that the commission president visited the White House. Bush said Tuesday he had a "good, frank discussion" with E.U. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on trade issues. A focus of the talks was how to make the next Doha Round of trade talks a success. Bush said Europe and the U.S. share the same objectives, a sentiment that Barroso later echoed. But despite the warm rhetoric and pleasantries exchanged between the leaders, there were no tangible results. Barroso said it was not his job to replace the negotiators, indicating that his meeting with Bush was not supposed to strike a deal on a U.S. proposal to slash agriculture subsidies. --More 2258 Local Time 1958 GMT
