To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what concessions on agricultural subsidies were offered by the European Union at discussions with the United States, Brazil and India in Potsdam. (146854)

I have been asked to reply.

The 19-21 June meeting of the G4 Ministers (US, EU, India and Brazil) failed to reach convergence on the Doha Development Agenda. This means that the focus now returns to Geneva and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a whole. We can expect WTO Chairs’ texts to come forward very soon and the WTO Director General, Lamy, to lead the process.

At the beginning of April 2007, the G6 (India, Brazil, US, EU, Japan and Australia) all committed to conclude negotiations by the end of the year. The Government remain committed to achieving an ambitious outcome this year. We believe that this remains possible providing all parties show the necessary flexibility and commitment.