Brussels, 06/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - In an interview with BBC radio on Thursday 6 November, European Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton said that there could be a breakthrough in the Doha talks on an agreement on the modalities (the technical issues) for liberalising trade in agriculture and industrial goods before the end of the year. “It would be extremely good to do so because that is a very positive signal” for a world economy severely affected by the international financial crisis. Technical discussions are continuing in Geneva, inter alia to settle the dispute between the United States and India over the special safeguard mechanism that was the main cause of the breakdown in ministerial talks in July. While there is real desire to conclude an agreement on the technical issues, the change of administration in the US, elections in India, Japan and Europe mean that there is no possibility of political agreement. The leaders of the G20 economic powers are expected, nonetheless, to seize the opportunity presented by the Summit on the reform of the international financial system, to be held in Washington on 15 November, to call for the Round to be relaunched. Ashton also said it was “crucial” that the United States support an agreement on modalities, minimising the effect of the replacement, in January 2009, of President George W. Bush by his newly elected successor Barack Obama. “There are further issues that have to be resolved. So it is not about one president or the other. It is about the country of America actually engaging and wanting to finish the deal,” she said. (E.H./transl.rt)