WTO talks extended as no agreement on reaffirming Doha, SSM

NAIROBI: WTO talks at the tenth ministerial got extended as countries failed to find an agreement on reaffirming the Doha development agenda including a permanent solution for food security, export competition and special safeguards mechanism.

Discussions on export competition and agriculture subsidies went on till 11 pm India time post which India, led by commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman, decided to turn the talks towards the Doha issues that have been skirted by the developed countries till now.

Another meeting is scheduled to take place at 2.30 am Kenya time.

The reality of lack of agreement is contrary to claims made by Amina Mohamed, chair of the ministerial, in evening who said that there was no crisis and a deal would be clinched in a few hours. India maintained that there was no deal in sight.

Interestingly, the European Commissioner for trade, Cecelia Malmstrom late in the evening blogged that it was difficult to conclude the talks today.

"It's quite improbable that we will finish this conference today, as planned. Many of us have rebooked our flights for the weekend instead," she wrote on her blog.