DHAKA, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Cancun could bring substantive gains for Bangladesh as well as other least developed countries (LDCs) if it had not collapsed in stalemate among major players, reported the official Bangladesh News Agency Wednesday.

　　The remarks was made by Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury at the airport here on his return from Cancun Wednesday,and he termed it a "lost opportunity" for the LDCs, especially forBangladesh.

　　When giving his views on the Cancun conference that collapse from a sharp row over agricultural subsidy and Singapore issues, the minister said Bangladesh created a position of trade gains butlost it in the stalemate.

　　He said a successful end of the Cancun conference could result in duty free and quota free access of LDCs' non-agricultural exports, mainly manufactured goods to the market of the rich countries.

　　There could be some new commitments in regard to special and differential treatment of LDCs' exports, besides market access andtariff reduction, said Khosru, referring to progress in pre-summitnegotiations.

　　He also pointed out the demand for free movement of labour was specially crafted by Bangladesh in view of its large work force and their exposure to international labour market.

　　The failed trade talks left those benefits in no where, as whatthe LDCs were about to gain from a successful end of the talks came in vain, said the minister.

　　Explaining how the talks failed, he said the rich countries didnot agree to make substantive reduction in agricultural subsidy, but instead kept on pressing the developing countries and the LDCsto make firm commitment on implementation of four Singapore issuesthat they consistently declined.

　　Khosru said the rich countries made poor judgment about the solid unity that the developing countries and the LDCs put up thistime in fighting their cause.

　　The minister said the LDCs and other developing countries do not want to go back to the difficulties that were left to them from the earlier Uruguay round of trade talks.

　　The four Singapore issues refer a WTO investment guideline, competition policy, government procurement policy and slashing of bureaucracy in developing countries and the LDCs. Enditem