Australia said on Thursday it still hoped a global trade pact could be struck by a December deadline despite a failure by leading states to make any breakthroughs, according to Reuters. But in a clear dig at the European Union, which has been blamed for the latest setback, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said some World Trade Organisation (WTO) states must be "more responsible". "I still remain optimistic that we are going to go ahead with this," he told journalists, referring to the hoped-for deal in Hong Kong in December. "But it is going to take the commitment of some states which should have been more responsible in recent weeks," he added.
