The top U.S. trade official Friday criticized a European Union offer to cut farm tariffs and subsidies, saying it falls short of proposals by the United States and developing countries, according to DPA. "This is not the time for take-it-or-leave-it proposals. We need to negotiate in good faith," U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said in a conference call with reporters. His comments came after the European Union earlier Friday offered to cut average tariffs on agricultural imports to 12.2 percent and to lower trade-distorting farm subsidies by 70 per cent. Portman called the E.U. a "modest step in the right direction", adding that unless the deadlock over agricultural trade subsidies was resolved, no progress could be made in other areas, such as services. "We need to bridge this gap ... we have no time to lose," Portman said. Portman's spokeswoman, Christin Baker, said the proposed E.U. tariff cuts fell short of proposals by the G-20 group of developing countries and "far lower" than the U.S. proposal. The United States this month offered to make steep cuts in its farm subsidies if other countries followed suit. The U.S. and key developing countries have recently intensified pressure on the E.U. to further open up to farm imports and phase out subsidies to European farmers. The World Trade Organization's 148 members are set to meet in Hong Kong in December for a make-or-break meeting that officials say will determine whether the so-called Doha round of trade talks can be completed as scheduled by the end of next year.
