EU wants to conclude Doha round by next year

BRUSSELS: The European Union says it hopes the Doha round of negotiations to boost world trade can be finished by the end of next year.

Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht says that the EU will also push for bilateral trade deals with India, Canada, and the Ukraine.

The announcement comes as the EU launches its new trade strategy. The World Trade Organization's Doha round was started in 2001 to clear away barriers to trade, but negotiations have stalled since 2008 over major issues including agriculture.

Next year, the EU also plans a proposal to help open other markets for contracts to carry out public projects.

De Gucht says ``we are entitled to ask partners to progressively open their own markets,'' because Europe has opened its public projects to foreign companies.