OSAKA (Kyodo) Former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills called Wednesday for advancing the liberalization of global farm trade, at the start of a three-day meeting of senior officials from 25 Asian economies.
The meeting is to give impetus to the Doha Round of trade-opening talks under the World Trade Organization.
"Agriculture is key because it is connected to alleviation of poverty," Hills said, urging developed WTO members in Asia to improve market access for farm products made by developing countries and to eliminate subsidies and other supportive measures to domestic farmers.