No Breakthroughs Expected at Industrialized Nations Meeting

PARIS — Sharp differences among the major industrialized nations over trade and agricultural issues are expected to be aired at a meeting of ministers from the 24-nation Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) being held Wednesday and Thursday.

Senior officials of the group said Monday that they do not expect any dramatic breakthroughs such as occurred last year, when the ministers decided to measure costly subsidies to farmers as a first step to eliminating them.

“The present situation does not give reason for a spectacular shift or reversal of policies,” said one of the officials who spoke at a press briefing on the understanding that they would not be named.

The officials were alluding to the U.S. presidential elections in November, which rule out any major policy initiatives before then, as well as continuing differences among the seven major industrialized countries over monetary policy.

In Britain, there is even disagreement between Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her finance minister over exchange rate policy. There has just been a change of governments in France and West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s position has been weakened.

Sometimes referred to as the “rich countries club,” the OECD groups the 24 main industrialized nations and focuses on economic issues. For the Group of Seven main democracies, the OECD meeting will serve as a dress rehearsal for next month’s world economic summit in Ottawa.