| This conference is intended
to kick-start the negotiations on
freer and fairer trade, with a particular emphasis
on improving the lives of those in the poorest nations. Deadlines
have slipped and it's long been uncertain how much progress could
be made here.
Now, twenty-one developing nations have come together to say,
in effect, that they believe the meeting will be
doomed unless there's a radical
shift by the rich nations. They call for an end to
subsidies on agricultural exports, substantial
cuts in other financial support
for agriculture that distorts trade and substantially greater
access to the markets of developed countries.
What's significant is that this initiative has
brought together key nations such as China, India and Brazil
and together, the twenty-one make up half
the world's population and more than sixty percent of its farmers.
The Brazilian foreign minister called it historic. British ministers
here see it as part of the staking-out
of positions before the conference. But they're not playing
down the difficulties in overcoming the hurdles.
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kick-start: if you kick-start something
you try to get it moving quickly
emphasis: special importance given
to something
doomed: certain to fail
a radical shift: a profound change
in practices or ideas
subsidies: monetary help or incentives
to produce more (or less)
substantial cuts: large, significant
reductions
brought together: assembled
make up: add up to
staking-out: marking out attitudes to problems
hurdles: obstacles, difficulties
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