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EU Trade Commissioner Says Doha Must Get Done This Fall

The next two months are critical for the Doha trade talks according to European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

Negotiations have started again based on recommendations by the chairs of the negotiation groups, which has survived the first round of discussions. Mandelson, addressing the European Parliament's International Trade Committee said negotiators must now get down to specifics and accept the recommendations as their basis for negotiating. He said what is being asked of all the negotiators is reasonable and attainable.

"The reality of these talks is that the distance to the finishing line, in economic terms, is fairly short now. Certainly very short compared to the road that has been traveled so far," Mandelson told the committee. "The cost of remaining concessions that both developed and some, more competitive developing countries need to bring into the final package is small compared to the systemic gain of doing the deal — especially as global economic conditions are becoming more uncertain."