Brussels, 19/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Jakarta is to host a major meeting, this Tuesday and Wednesday, of the GE-33 “supporters of the special products” countries, led by Indonesia, to decide on the stance to be taken by the group, which comprises some 40 developing countries, in the Doha negotiations. “The objective of this meeting is to create joint unity and determination between the developing countries”, the Indonesian Trade Minister, Mari Elka Pangestu, stressed last Friday, quoted by the country's press (our translation). Ms Pangestu, who is the negotiator-in-chief of the G-33, pointed out that the effort to reduce American internal support to a limit of 20 billion dollars a year agreed to by Washington was “insufficient” for the countries of her group, who would like to see a reduction to 12 billion dollars. Furthermore, the G-33 intends to remain “firm” on the exemptions to increased liberalisation it is calling for in agricultural trade: these are the special products (the equivalent of the sensitive products for richer countries), such as rice, cotton and maize, and the special protection mechanisms designed to resist the reduction of customs duties on certain special products in order to protect food safety and living standards for the citizens and promote rural development in the developing countries. (eh)