GENEVA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) reaffirmed here Wednesday that it would not give new concessions on agricultural matters at the ongoing ministerial-level WTO talks, which is aimed at salvaging the deadlocked Doha Round talks.

    "I confirm there will not be any new movement, any new concessions given by the EU (on agricultural matters)," Anne-Marie Idrac, minister of state for foreign trade of France, told reporters during intervals of the week-long meeting, which drew ministers from some 35 major World Trade Organization members. France holds the rotating six-month EU presidency.

    She demanded reciprocity in the current negotiations concerning the Doha Round.

    "It is also clear that reciprocity must also be found in our offensive interests," said Idrac, who stressed the EU was "at the head of the pack" on agricultural issues.

    "We have gone as far as we can because we did take the lead in the area," she added.

    Ministers from some 35 WTO members including the United States, the European Union (EU), India and Brazil kicked off a crucial week-long meeting Monday, which was billed as the last chance to strike a deal on the long-stalled Doha Round of global trade talks within the deadline of this year.

    The Doha Round, officially launched in 2001, had missed repeated deadlines in the past seven years mainly due to differences between the developing and developed countries over agriculture and non-agricultural market access (NAMA).

    While rich nations were seeking more market access to the developing world for their industrial products, developing countries urged developed members to make a deeper cut of farm subsidies and tariffs for agricultural goods.

    The French minister said the EU's goals concerning the Doha Round talks are "ambition, balanced, and comprehensive."

    She said the EU members are firm to ensure the mandate of the EU negotiators led by European Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson, and vow to "maintain cohesion and unity."

    She boasted that the EU's previous offer to cut farm tariffs by54 percent, or Mandelson's proposal of 60 percent reduction on Monday, was a major step intended to move forward the Doha Round.

    When asked to comment on the U.S. offer on Tuesday to cut its annual ceiling of farm subsidies by 2 billion U.S. dollars to 15 billion, Idrac only described it as "a step."

    "In a multilateral round just like this one, each participant will have to be able to have their share and benefits," she said.