WTO meet enters extra time; no pact yet on farm, fishing

Negotiations at the 13th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) remained deadlocked on the fifth day as rich nations stayed divided on agriculture issues, especially those of interest to India. Hectic parleys were going on to bridge the differences between developed and emerging economies on these issues, but not much progress had been made.

The meeting of the highest decision-making body of the WTO, which was supposed to conclude on Thursday, entered the fifth day on Friday with key members, including India, the US and EU, holding talks to iron out differences on issues such as agriculture, fisheries subsidies, WTO reforms and duty moratorium on e-commerce trade.

Brazil supported India and South Africa's call to end the moratorium on imposing taxes on e-commerce transmissions.


"Brazil said there is a change in government in their country which has led to a change in its stance," said an official, who did not wish to be identified.

In a key development, South Africa withdrew its opposition to the China-led proposed Investment Facilitation Agreement. Both India and South Africa had opposed the proposed pact as it was outside the ambit of the global trade watchdog.

The EU has pushed for trade and industrial policy in the draft Abu Dhabi package for disciplines on industrial subsidies, something that developing nationslike South Africa have opposed, citing protection of policy space.

Around nine WTO members, including India, the US, China, South Africa and Brazil, met WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, called green room meetings in trade parlance, to iron out the differences. The US Trade Representative Katherine Tai left for the US.

"The DG wants an outcome and is trying hard for it," said another official. "There may not be an outcome document but a chair statement or ministers report are likely as the stance of all members remains the same."

The ministers continue to be engaged in intensive and difficult discussions on a package of agreements for adoption at MC13, the WTO said.

India has also asked developed countries engaged in distant water fishing to stop providing any kind of subsidies for 25 years, pressing for an end to the moratorium on imposing customs duties on e-commerce trade. South Africa and Brazil are also in favour of ending the moratorium.