'Quint' ministers at odds after wrapping up 2-day Nara meeting

'Quint' ministers at odds after wrapping up 2-day Nara meeting

NARA, Japan - Agriculture ministers from five major farm trading economies -- (from L to R) Warren Truss of Australia, Lyle Vanclief of Canada, Ann Veneman of the U.S., Tsutomu Takebe of Japan and EU Commissioner Franz Fischler -- pose for a photo session in Nara, western Japan, on July 27. The five ministers remain divided over how to cut farm tariffs and subsidies after their two-day meeting.

(3)Quint farm ministers meeting begin in Nara

(3)Quint farm ministers meeting begin in Nara

NARA, Japan - Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tsutomu Takebe (L) and European Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Franz Fischler shake hands at the beginning of their talks in Nara on July 26. Japan and the EU confirmed their opposition to a set of farm tariff and subsidy cut proposals unveiled by the United States the previous day.

EU farm commissioner proposes mini WTO ministerial meetings+

EU farm commissioner proposes mini WTO ministerial meetings+

TOKYO, Japan - European Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo on July 25. Fischler said that the World Trade Organization (WTO) should hold ''mini-ministerial meetings'' before its fifth ministerial meeting in Mexico in September 2003 to help bridge the gaps, particularly on agriculture trade, among member states.

'Quint' ministers at odds after wrapping up 2-day Nara meeting

'Quint' ministers at odds after wrapping up 2-day Nara meeting

NARA, Japan - Agriculture ministers from five major farm trading economies -- (from L to R) Warren Truss of Australia, Lyle Vanclief of Canada, Ann Veneman of the U.S., Tsutomu Takebe of Japan and EU Commissioner Franz Fischler -- pose for a photo session in Nara, western Japan, on July 27. The five ministers remain divided over how to cut farm tariffs and subsidies after their two-day meeting. (Kyodo)