Jean-Rene Fourtou, chairman of Vivendi Universal SA and the International Chambers of Commerce, is heading a gathering that will press U.S. President George W. Bush to use the simultaneous G-8 summit to support efforts to agree on a framework for a World Trade Organization pact worth $500 billion to the global economy.

We want to make sure our message to the WTO is heard loud and clear'' because markets must be opened to enhance trade, Fourtou, 64, said in an interview in Paris. The G-8 is always tempted by protectionism, but let's make the Doha round a success. The G-8 has a major role to play and must abandon some of its privileges.''

The five-day meeting in Marrakech will be the last chance business leaders have to influence WTO negotiations before a key deadline next month. WTO negotiators representing the Geneva- based body's 147 member governments are aiming to craft a blueprint for an eventual WTO deal by the end of July. That accord would slash import duties, making it easier for companies to post staff abroad and cut customs red tape at borders.

If things come together in July, it will instill confidence in business that the WTO can really achieve something,'' said David Woods, managing director of World Trade Agenda, a consultancy in Geneva. Whatever comes out in July will be so broad that business in late 2005 will be able to push for the more specific actions that are needed.''

EU Offer

The European Union last month offered to end its use of subsidies that compensate agricultural exporters for lower world market prices. That unlocked talks that have centered on making wealthy markets more accessible to farm products from emerging economies.

Developing countries including Brazil, India and China want WTO negotiators to agree to set a ceiling on agricultural import tariffs. The U.S. wants the talks to deliver new market opportunities for its farmers, Allen Johnson, the assistant U.S. trade representative, said in Geneva last week.

Business executives will also demand action to improve cooperation between nations and combat piracy at sea, which ranges from attacks against ships by armed individuals looking to steal money and cargoes to the hijacking of entire vessels.

Piracy has more than quadrupled in a decade, according to the International Chamber of Commerce's commercial crime services unit. The number of attacks climbed to 445 last year, including more than a quarter off Indonesia, from 106 in 1992.

It's a very steady upward trend,'' said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the crime services division in London. It is important that there are some mechanisms whereby countries without resources get help.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Warren Giles in
Geneva wgiles@bloomberg.net