Flexibility signaled on trade talks

The nation will be flexible on some "sensitive issues" in global trade talks to stem the rising wave of protectionism, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said yesterday.

"China will show flexibility on issues like the Agricultural Special Safeguard Mechanism to facilitate the completion of the multilateral world trade system," he said at the China Development Forum 2009 held in Beijing.

The on-again, off-again Doha Round of talks started in 2001 to lower trade barriers and increase international commerce, but agreement could not be reached last year due to differences between India and the United States on safeguards to protect farmers from a flood of imports.