Trade officials from countries belonging to the World Trade Organization have postponed a deal to eliminate tariffs on high-technology products.

Officials from 55 WTO members, including Japan, the United States and China, have been trying to reach an agreement since May 2012.

The negotiations stalled in November last year after China demanded exemptions for some products to protect its domestic industries.

Talks resumed last month following bilateral discussions between the US and China. The US accepted exemptions for some Chinese products.

Delegates at the talks, held through Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, had been expected to reach a deal by the end of the month.

But some countries were unhappy about the exemptions for the Chinese products.

South Korea and Taiwan insisted that the deal should cover LCD screens and other products that their domestic manufacturers produce competitively.

Attention is now focused on whether negotiators will be able to find common ground when they meet again early next year. Observers say the deal could increase exports of digital products made by Japanese manufacturers.

Source: NHK

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