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WTO Approves Broad Trade Agreement


All 149 World Trade Organization members in Hong Kong have approved a compromise agreement to boost free trade and eventually eliminate farm export subsidies.

Negotiators praised the agreement, but some said it fell short of expectations and many divisive issues remain.

U.S. officials say the deal reflects unprecedented cooperation among all countries. The WTO chief Pascal Lamy said today's agreement gave next year's trade talks a new sense of urgency.

Wealthy countries agreed to drop agricultural export subsidies by 2013. Poorer countries say those subsidies make it more difficult to market their goods. Export subsidies on cotton will be eliminated in 2006, helping African cotton producers.

Wealthy nations also promised nearly tariff-free and quota-free trade for the world's poorest nations. Tariffs and quotas will start to be removed in 2008, or after an overall WTO agreement is completed.
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