The leaders also called for joint efforts to complete the Doha Development Round of talks on global trade liberalization by the end of 2006. The Doha WTO negotiations, which began in Qatar in 2001, have been deadlocked over developing countries' opposition to agricultural protectionism on the part of Europe and the United States.
The G8 leaders said they were "committed to substantially reducing trade-distorting domestic support and to the parallel elimination by the end of 2013 of all forms of export subsidies, as well as the establishment of effective disciplines on all export measures with equivalent effect."
"We are fully committed to the development dimension of Doha and the need to improve the participation of developing countries, including through south-south trade and enhanced regional integration. Trade and market opening can be a vital engine for development. An agreed development package should help achieve a successful outcome to the Doha round," the statement said.
