SYDNEY, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- European Union trade leaders have declined invitations to a meeting in Australia next month aimed at reviving the stalled Doha round of global trade talks.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Agriculture Minister Marianne Fischer Boel have both turned down invitations from Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile to attend a meeting of some 50 countries -- including 18 involved in the World Trade Organization's Doha round -- in the northern city of Cairns, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Vaile has announced previously that United States trade chief Susan Schwab and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Michael Johanns would travel to Cairns.
The WTO free-trade talks broke down in July when the major powers failed to reach agreement on agriculture.
The United States refused further cuts in farm subsidies, declaring the EU and the bigger developing countries were not offering enough compensation in the way of increased access to their markets for U.S. goods.
