India proposes “new approaches” for farm talks at WTO consistent with Doha mandate

New Delhi: Insisting on the need to preserve the development dimension of the Doha Work Programme, India has emphasised the mandated issues of Permanent Solution on Public Stockholding (PSH), Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM), and Cotton, followed by outcomes on broader long-term reforms.

In a draft declaration to the World Trade Organization (WTO) during its ongoing 14 Ministerial Conference in Cameroon, it said these issues be taken up “on a standalone basis and shall not be made contingent upon progress in other areas.”

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“Special and Differential Treatment for developing countries is preserved and strengthened…any possible new approach shall be consistent with existing mandates and not dilute or replace them,” India said.

March 29 is the last day of the four-day MC14 and the ministerial was to be concluded at noon, which then got extended to 1.30 pm local time.

Affirming the importance of agriculture for food security, livelihood security, and rural development, particularly for developing and least-developed countries, New Delhi committed to continue negotiations in the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session on the basis of existing mandates, “with a view to achieving balanced and development-oriented outcomes”.

It also proposed to establish a time-bound pathway to deliver outcomes on mandated issues no later than MC15, and address structural imbalances in domestic support, including elimination of Final Bound Aggregate Measurement of Support (FBTAMS) entitlements to create a level playing field.