Developing nations have been stepping up pressure on richer states to open their long-protected markets as global trade talks flounder in Hong Kong, with the US and the EU blaming each other.
Yesterday, the World Bank added its voice to the indignation expressed by least-developed countries over their treatment at the World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong, saying there had been much talk about development but too little action.
In a statement, the World Bank's Vice President, Danny Leipziger, said: 'In the three days the meetings have taken so far, the rich countries have transferred more than $2bn to their farmers in various forms of support. In the same period, the 300m poorest people in Africa have earned less than $1bn between them.'
Poor nations slammed Washington and Tokyo at the talks for baulking at a deal that would allow their goods in free of duties and quotas, saying that after years of prescribing liberalisation for others it was time they swallowed their own medicine.
The US, led by trade representative Rob Portman, also came under fire over the $4 billion a year in subsidies enjoyed by its cotton farmers.
The US won little respite when it announced its willingness to offer duty-free access for cotton from impoverished West African states.
'This is a step in the right direction but it is clear more needs to be done. The real problem for African cotton producers is dumping on the world market, resulting from domestic and export subsidies,' said the EU Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson.
Washington, for its part, sought to turn the spotlight back onto the EU's refusal to lower import tariffs for farm goods from developing countries.
Meanwhile, over 1,000 anti-globalisation protesters marched towards the convention centre where the talks are taking place.
Police used pepper spray and batons to drive back South Korean protesters on the first two days of the meeting but they expect more intense confrontations before it closes on Sunday.
