We vote for Doha Round, says govt

GENEVA: At the end of India’s Trade Policy Review (TPR) meeting at the WTO, commerce secretary GK Pillai replied to requests for clarification of some of the country’s policies by other member countries, reiterating that India has always been a strong votary of the rules-based multilateral trading system as it is the only way the goal of fair trade can be ultimately realised.

Mr Pillai concluded by stating that India is strongly committed to ensuring a successful conclusion to the Doha Round, which is a Development Round. The round is needed “to deliver for us. It has to be a Development Round where greater benefits flow to developing countries and not developed countries”.

The statement was interpreted by observers as reiterating India’s oft-stated stand. The secretariat observed that India was receptive and open to comments.Mr Pillai pointed out to the WTO members that as part of India’s economic reforms, tariffs have autonomously been reduced over the years, with the peak rate for non-agricultural products coming down from 20% in 2004 to 10%.

Tariffs on a number of basic raw materials (organic and inorganic chemicals, polymers, metals and capital goods) are in the range of 5-7.5%, and the government has informed Parliament that tariffs will be reduced to align with Asean’s. On relatively high tariffs on agricultural products, Mr Pillai stated that they are fixed taking into consideration several factors.