WTO talks heading for a failure
Marked by blames and counter-blames, the WTO talks entered the ninth day today with very remote chances of an agreement with the US unwilling to give India and other developing countries' policy space to protect their farmers from the vagaries of ...
By PTI |
GENEVA: Marked by blames and counter-blames, the WTO talks entered the ninth day today with very remote chances of an agreement with the US unwilling to give India and other developing countries' policy space to protect their farmers from the vagaries of open market.
"The signals are very discouraging...Chances are very grim," a senior Indian official said, adding "Americans are not ready to budge from their stand".
Frustrated with no outcome, several of the 30 trade ministers who arrived here on July 21 to discuss the new proposals for a global trade deal on Doha Round have left Geneva.
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath along with a strong contingent of officials is, however, continuously engaged in serious negotiations, but without result.
The main bone of contention, as far as India is concerned, is New Delhi's demand to significantly lower the trigger level for imposing higher duties on farm products, should the imports surge.
The draft text gives a trigger of 40 per cent surge in imports, which is as good as no protection.
Earlier in the day, European Union said India and the US need to compromise on their stands and bridge differences as face-off between them could cost the WTO negotiators a deal for opening the world market.
The compromise should come from "both sides who are involved," EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on his arrival at the WTO headquarters here this morning.
"The signals are very discouraging...Chances are very grim," a senior Indian official said, adding "Americans are not ready to budge from their stand".
Frustrated with no outcome, several of the 30 trade ministers who arrived here on July 21 to discuss the new proposals for a global trade deal on Doha Round have left Geneva.
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath along with a strong contingent of officials is, however, continuously engaged in serious negotiations, but without result.
The main bone of contention, as far as India is concerned, is New Delhi's demand to significantly lower the trigger level for imposing higher duties on farm products, should the imports surge.
The draft text gives a trigger of 40 per cent surge in imports, which is as good as no protection.
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Earlier in the day, European Union said India and the US need to compromise on their stands and bridge differences as face-off between them could cost the WTO negotiators a deal for opening the world market.
The compromise should come from "both sides who are involved," EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on his arrival at the WTO headquarters here this morning.
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