NGOs seek tariff freedom for developing nations at WTO
Civil organisations and NGOs attending the WTO meeting here have sought tariff freedom for developing nations as a defence against high import of certain sensitive items.
By PTI |
GENEVA: Civil organisations and NGOs attending the WTO meeting here have sought tariff freedom for developing nations as a defence against high import of certain sensitive items, and criticised the US for not agreeing to bring down farm subsidies to the acceptable level.
"The WTO draft on agriculture does not reflects the ground realities prevailing in the developing countries," said National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), part of the delegation of Asian Farmers Group on Cooperation which met WTO Director General Pascal Lamy on Wednesday.
The union said the developing countries should be allowed to impose tariff increase as a defence against high imports from developed countries.
"Developed countries like the US have refused to reduce their trade distorting subsidies from high levels to moderate levels as demanded by developing countries," NCUI President G H Amin said.
"The developed countries are putting pressure on developing countries like India and Brazil to yield to their demands or else be blamed for the failure of the talks. But, the latest draft texts in agriculture and NAMA modalities show that the 'rate of exchange' is still unequal," said Martin Khor, Director of Third World Network, another NGO representing developing countries.
"The agriculture text continues to propose that the US reduce its allowed overall trade distorting support to a range of USD 13 to 16.4 billion. The US had indicated in WTO agriculture talks that it could consider the upper part of that range which is close to USD 17 billion it had already offered in Potsdam," he said.
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