FACTBOX: Likely impacts of WTO farm and industry accord

(Reuters) - Trade ministers are tussling in Geneva over slashing barriers to agricultural and manufactured goods exports, aiming to push long-stalled multilateral talks to a conclusion nearly seven years after their start.

Following is a synopsis of the potential impact of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations over a Doha round accord, based on new research from World Bank experts Bernard Hoekman, Will Martin, Aaditya Mattoo and Richard Newfarmer:

LIMITS ON PROTECTIONIST MEASURES

The Doha talks are focused mainly on setting maximum levels for the tariffs and duties governments can slap on imports, for goods ranging from raw cotton to clothing to cars.

Under a deal, the average bound -- or maximum-allowable -- tariff for farm products would decline to 30 percent or less, and tariffs on non-agricultural goods would fall to 5 percent, the World Bank estimated, also saying protectionist policies affecting cross-border services would also be limited.

"History is replete with cases where governments, undisciplined by bound commitments, significantly increased protection to the detriment of their trading partners, and so the value of reducing maximum permitted levels of protection is a significant result," they said.

ACTUAL CUTS ON CURRENT PROTECTIONS

The tariffs now applied on imported goods would also decline, but to a lesser extent than the tariff ceilings, according to the World Bank economists. They estimated average farm tariffs in developed countries would fall to 11 percent, from 15 percent, while in developing markets agricultural tariffs would be basically unchanged.

Tariffs on non-agricultural goods are already much lower on average than in farming -- with a world average applied rate of only 2.9 percent -- but some peaks exist that shield individual sectors from competition. Under proposals being negotiated in Geneva, the highest tariffs would fall the most.

In both areas, accounting for the exemptions expected to be afforded to both rich and poor countries, the average applied tariffs on traded goods should fall to 2.9 percent from 3.7 percent, the World Bank report said. "This implies that tariffs globally would fall by an average of nearly one-third, a not inconsiderable achievement."

EXPORT SUBSIDY CUTS

The Doha talks would also include a sharp reduction in the amount of money and other assistance governments can give their agricultural exporters, and make them unable to ramp up currently low levels of domestic support if commodity prices should fall in the future.

The European Union's permitted level of farm subsidies would fall by 70 percent, and Washington's would fall by 60 percent, the World Bank said. "These are important steps forward in reducing uncertainty for producers in developing countries and should help promote investment in agriculture," the note found.

(Editing by Jon Boyle)