GENEVA - Governments should not wait for a full Doha Round deal before slashing punitive tariffs on wind turbines, solar power heaters and water-saving showers, Britain's top trade official said on Tuesday.

Gareth Thomas, minister for trade in the department for international development, said countries should voluntarily cut import taxes and duties on green goods at once in order to encourage business in environmentally-friendly technology.

Why hold back now, just because we are waiting for the Doha Round to be done? he told Reuters during a ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization. The WTO's 153 members are aiming to wrap up the Doha accord, which spans all areas of global trade, including food, cars and banking, in 2010.

(Reporting by Laura MacInnis)

United kingdom Energy