Restrictions on helping Indian fishermen unacceptable: Nath
India has said it will not accept provisions under the ongoing WTO talks that restrict it from addressing livelihood concerns of poor fishermen.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: India has said it will not accept provisions under the ongoing WTO talks that restrict it from addressing livelihood concerns of poor fishermen.
In a meeting with US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said India would not accept any constraints or restrictions on its ability to provide assistance to poor fishermen.
"There is a need for a revised text on Rules before the Ministerial Meeting, as the earlier text had been severely criticised by most members for its proposals on anti-dumping and fisheries subsidies. For India these were serious livelihood concerns in fisheries," an official release quoted Nath as saying.
The proposed rules seek to stop all forms of government support for development of fisheries including creating infrastructure facilities, modernisation and expansion of processing systems. The WTO Ministerial -- the highest decision-making organ of the multilateral body -- is likely to be held in Geneva in May end.
Nath further said in view of the increasing importance of services in economic growth and employment, an ambitious outcome in the services negotiations is essential.
"The Ministerial Meeting to be held in Geneva in the next few weeks should provide clear and unambiguous indications regarding such an outcome. Without such clear signals on Services it would be difficult to make any progress," he said.
Nath said key issues like reduction of farm subsidies, Special Products (on which countries make no commitments to cut duties) and Special Safeguard Measures need to be resolved for a successful conclusion of the trade talks.
"These issues are at the heart of the development dimension of the Round and would need to be addressed ambitiously," he said.
In a meeting with US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said India would not accept any constraints or restrictions on its ability to provide assistance to poor fishermen.
"There is a need for a revised text on Rules before the Ministerial Meeting, as the earlier text had been severely criticised by most members for its proposals on anti-dumping and fisheries subsidies. For India these were serious livelihood concerns in fisheries," an official release quoted Nath as saying.
The proposed rules seek to stop all forms of government support for development of fisheries including creating infrastructure facilities, modernisation and expansion of processing systems. The WTO Ministerial -- the highest decision-making organ of the multilateral body -- is likely to be held in Geneva in May end.
Nath further said in view of the increasing importance of services in economic growth and employment, an ambitious outcome in the services negotiations is essential.
"The Ministerial Meeting to be held in Geneva in the next few weeks should provide clear and unambiguous indications regarding such an outcome. Without such clear signals on Services it would be difficult to make any progress," he said.
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Nath said key issues like reduction of farm subsidies, Special Products (on which countries make no commitments to cut duties) and Special Safeguard Measures need to be resolved for a successful conclusion of the trade talks.
"These issues are at the heart of the development dimension of the Round and would need to be addressed ambitiously," he said.
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