Deal to launch new world trade talks welcomed
The British government has welcomed a deal to launch a new round of world trade talks after a "historic" agreement between trade ministers from 142 countries.
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt says the "landmark agreement" gave a much needed boost to world economic confidence.
Approval for the talks came after six days of hard bargaining at the World Trade Organisation conference in Doha, capital of the Gulf state of Qatar.
Ms Hewitt says that following the developments in Afghanistan, the deal signalled the determination of the world community to fight terror with trade as well as arms.
She adds:"These new world trade negotiations will be good for British consumers, good for our exporters and good for the developing world.
"Every traveller enjoys duty-free shopping. The aim of these negotiations is to make duty-free the norm, bringing the benefits of duty-free to every high street, souk and bazaar around the globe."
Ms Hewitt says that British families would be better off by £500 a year if world tariffs on food and other products could now be cut by half.
Opening up more markets and cutting duties around the world, including China and the USA, will also safeguard manufacturing jobs in Britain.
She says ministers had made it clear that medicines will be available in countries devastated by diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria without undermining incentives to companies to develop new drugs.
Ms Hewitt says the agreement included several elements of real benefit to developing countries.
