U.S. disappointed over lack of trade pact

POTSDAM, Germany, June 21 (UPI) -- U.S. officials working with the Group of Eight session at Potsdam, Germany, voiced disappointment Thursday at the lack of a new trade agreement.

In a joint statement, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Ambassador Susan Schwab said the six-year campaign to create a trade agreement in the Doha Round "to spur economic growth and development, especially in the world's poorest countries, by creating new trade flows and disciplining subsidies" would continue toward that goal in some fashion.

"We came this week with the commitment to make significant progress toward a successful Round," the statement said. "Unfortunately, this week's negotiations could not generate political consensus to meaningfully open markets to new trade -- particularly in manufactured goods."

Some key members declined, they said, "to put even minimal additional market access on the table."