WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters): Other nations must dismantle unfair farm trade barriers if they want to see large reductions in U.S. domestic subsidies, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said yesterday, stressing "this is a package" for freer trade. Getting ready for a second round of meetings aimed at invigorating world trade negotiations, Johanns said Europe and other agricultural trade powers should improve their offers. He commented on the same day that European farm groups complained EU negotiators already went too far. An agreement on agricultural reforms is considered vital for the so- called Doha round of negotiations to succeed. Johanns said this week's meeting in Geneva was critical. "This is a package," Johanns told reporters, linking lower ceilings on trade-distorting domestic farm subsidies with removal of trade barriers and reductions in tariffs. "We are looking for substantial market access." "I have not seen an offer that matches our passion (for reform)." Last week, the United States proposed a 60 per cent reduction in use of the most trade-distorting subsidies, such as payments directly linked to production of specific commodities, and cutting in half the limit for minimally distorting subsidies, such as payments based on past production of a crop or that limit output.
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