WTO nearing deal, India's concerns being addressed

BALI: In what could be seen as a major development, WTO members are nearing a deal that may address the issues raised by India with regard to food security plan.

"We are nearing a deal. Indian Minister ( Anand Sharma) has entered for the final meeting," a top source said ahead of the final negotiations called by World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo.

India's concerns on food security are expected to be addressed in the final text of the WTO, he said.

Sharma, however, did not make any commitment before leaving for the final round of negotiations, saying he had not seen the final draft.

"We stand by our point on the food security issue," he told reporters.

India's demand for immunity from penalties for its food security programme, sources said, had been addressed in the latest draft on Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).

As per the AoA draft text, members have agreed to put in place an interim mechanism till a final solution is found with regard to public stock holding for food security purposes.

Members, it added, "shall refrain from challenging though the WTO dispute settlement mechanism ...of the agreement on agriculture in relation to support provided for traditional staple food crops in pursuance of public stock holding programme for food security purposes..."