FACTBOX-Winners and losers after WTO talks collapse

Tue Jul 29, 2008 5:15pm BST
 
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(Reuters) - Talks to rescue a world trade deal collapsed on Tuesday, officials said.

The breakdown came as the United States and India failed to find a compromise on measures intended to help poor countries protect their farmers against import surges, a diplomat said.

Following is a summary of possible specific losers and winners from the failure to move ahead on the round:

MANUFACTURERS - Manufacturers in Europe, the United States and other developed economies were frustrated that the latest WTO compromise proposals meant little new export opportunities in fast-growing developing markets.

But carmakers might be relieved no deal was done because they feared they could lose out from lower import tariffs in their home countries while India or China could shield their big markets, just as their own carmakers become bigger players.

Chemicals and textiles producers in rich countries were seen as possible winners from a deal because developing countries would find it harder to protect those markets.

Manufacturers in China and other low-cost exporters would get a boost under a WTO deal because rich country tariffs would fall in areas such as automobiles, textiles and chemicals.

But some trade specialists said higher trade flows could trigger more anti-dumping duties and action by rich countries seeking to protect their companies.

SERVICES - Telecoms operators, banks, insurance companies and other service providers were hoping for a deal on the Doha round's core elements of agriculture and industrial goods in order to wrap up a final deal also covering services.  Continued...

 

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