Minister of Economy and Finance Ahmadou Abdoulaye Diallo of Mali

In more detailed coverage of the “complex” cotton issue, an AFP article from yesterday reported that, “African cotton-producing countries are ready to block any global trade deal that fails to address their interests on cotton, Mali Trade Minister Ahmadou Abdoulaye Diallo said Tuesday.

Africa to block WTO deal if no cotton agreement GENEVA, Dec 3: African cotton-producing countries are ready to block any global trade deal that fails to address their interests on cotton, Mali Trade Minister Ahmadou Abdoulaye Diallo said yesterday, reports AFP.

GENEVA (AFP) African cotton-producing countries are ready to block any global trade deal that fails to address their interests on cotton, Mali Trade Minister Ahmadou Abdoulaye Diallo said Tuesday.

African producers to block WTO deal if no cotton agreement 2 December 2008 AFP--African cotton-producing countries are ready to block any global trade deal that fails to address their interests on cotton, Mali Trade Minister Ahmadou Abdoulaye Diallo said Tuesday.

Diallo was speaking on behalf of the four major African cotton-producing countries -- Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso and Chad, which want industrialised countries, particularly the United States, to lower domestic subsidies that they say depress world cotton prices at poorer countries expense.

As the WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy considers calling ministers to a meeting this month to hammer out a global trade liberalisation pact, Diallo said the cotton issue must be put on the table.