Last week (Display Monitor Vol 21 No 49), talks surrounding the second phase of the International Technology Agreement (ITA-II) were said to have stalled over a disagreement between China and South Korea. Reuters now reports that the talks, which aim to update the 17-year old agreement, have fallen through because of the deadlock.
“The participants have significantly reduced the gaps on expanding the coverage of the ITA agreement in recent days, but unfortunately it has not been possible to finalise the negotiations this week”, said WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo.
Several countries, including South Korea, are said to have offered concessions to tempt China to sign the deal, but the country refused. A diplomat, quoted by Reuters, said, “They couldn’t move the last few centimeters”, adding that both sides were equally to blame for the collapse.
Talks are expected to resume in the new year.
