Brussels, 17/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - One month after the stalled G-4 meeting (EU, United States, Brazil and India) in Potsdam, the agriculture negotiations chairman, Crawford Falconer, and the non-agricultural market access (NAMA) negotiations chairman, Don Stephenson, tabled ambitious compromise texts in Geneva on Tuesday on the modalities for trade liberalisation in agriculture and industrial goods. They also gained the support of WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, who sounded a note of caution saying: “Finding such a compromise is always difficult and no delegation will get all it wants”. He went on: “But these texts constitute a fair and reasonable basis for reaching ambitious, balanced and development-oriented agreements”. The main features of the draft compromise are: - in agriculture, the text suggests reduction in US domestic subsidies and a reduction in the EU of between 66% and 73% (i.e. between USD 12.8 and 16.2 billion) and between 75% and 85% (i.e. between USD 16 and 27 billion) respectively. When it comes to market access, the EU is invited to reduce its agricultural tariffs within a range of 52% to 53%; - on NAMA, the 27 emerging countries are called upon to reduce their industrial tariffs between 19% and 23%. “These are negotiating instruments which will be revised and adjusted”, Mr Lamy promised. However, it is expected in Brussels and Washington, like all capitals, that teeth will be grinding, and a “complete reaction” to the draft Falconer/Stephenson compromise has been promised. EUROPE will come back to this. (eh)