April 11, 2007
Trade Ministers Meet over Doha Talks,
India Inc Hopeful
New Delhi
Trade ministers of India, Brazil, the US and EU are meeting here to
review the progress of the Doha Round of World Trade Organisation (WTO)
talks which were revived in February, as India Inc hopes for a
successful outcome of the parleys.
India's Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, EU Trade Commissioner Peter
Mandelson, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Brazil's Trade
and Foreign Minister Celso Amorin will attend the G4 meeting
Thursday, officials here said.
"The ministers are expected to discuss the areas of emerging
convergence among countries and steps to be taken to contribute in a
constructive manner to the multilateral process," India's commerce
ministry said in a statement.
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
president Habil Khorakiwala said: "An improved offer by developed
member-countries to reduce their trade-distorting farm subsidies and
a more accommodating position on their part regarding special
products and safeguard mechanism would be critical to unlock the
current impasse."
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) president R. Seshasayee said
the developing countries like India have to depend on the tariff
mechanism and other associated instrumentalities like 'special
products' to protect their agriculture against subsidised imports.
On the issue of non-agricultural market access (NAMA), the CII said
the developing countries should seek greater tariff reduction and
elimination of tariff peaks and tariff escalation.
However, Khorakiwala advised that India should resist the pressure
for drastic reduction in tariffs.
"We are hopeful. The fact that everyone is getting together on the
same table is a good sign," India's Commerce Secretary Gopal Pillai
said ahead of the meeting, adding that a positive outcome could
result in more rounds in Geneva.
Trade ministers of the G-4 trading block - India, Brazil, US and EU
will be meeting for the first time together after the Doha round of
negotiations failed to reach a conclusion due to a lack of consensus
largely on domestic support and market access in agriculture. The
talks were subsequently resumed Feb 7.
However, these ministers who arrived here Wednesday also held
several bi-lateral meetings behind closed doors.
"I am always positive, always on the front foot. Always showing
flexibility, and I will do my best to sustain that position on the
European Union's behalf," Mandelson said on his arrival.
"These talks are timely and important. If we are to use the
remaining window of opportunity open to us, we need to intensify and
accelerate the process. If we fail, Doha's prospects for this year
will be lost," he said.
His reference was to the fast-track authority of US President George
W. Bush to sign any negotiated deal that would otherwise expire in
June only to make the process long and protracted.
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