US Vice-President Al Gore has called for the elimination of agricultural export subsidies in the next round of world trade talks.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Mr Gore said that Washington would also call for substantial reductions in agricultural tariffs in the talks, expected to be launched at the end of 1999.

"I am especially hopeful that these trade talks will raise living standards for the world's farmers and ranchers," he said.

"That is why I am announcing today that the United States will call for broad and deep reductions in agricultural tariffs, which now average a steep 40 per cent.

"We will call for the outright elimination of agricultural export subsidies, which are found in no other sector."

According to Mr Gore, farm subsidies cost the average European family about $1,500 (€1,319) per year.