Search:



The Web

Rediff








 Latest Business news on mobile: sms BIZ to 7333

Home > Business > PTI > Report


WTO: Panel clears approach paper

August 23, 2003 17:43 IST

India's approach paper for negotiations at World Trade Organisation Ministerial at Cancun in Mexico next month was approved by a Cabinet Committee on Saturday.

With the developed and developing countries taking confrontationist postures on the contentious issue of agriculture, expectations are that Chairman of WTO Agriculture Committee Stuart Harbinson will present a new draft proposal.

India, China and 15 other developing countries have presented a framework for negotiations on agriculture to counter the EU-US proposal, which was heavily loaded in favour of developed countries.

Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley told Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting on Friday that the two key issues at Cancun would be agriculture and investment.

Jaitley said three pillars of agriculture negotiations are domestic support or subsidy, export subsidy and market access.

India wanted developed countries to bring down their subsidies and eventually eliminate them and also to ensure a level playing field for developing countries in domestic as well as export markets.

There must also be some cushioning by way of tariff protection for special products in addition to the Special Safeguard Mechanism to protect against price fluctuations and surge in imports.

7333: The Latest News on Your Mobile!

© Copyright 2005 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

Share your comments




Article Tools
Email this article
Top emailed links
Print this article
Write us a letter
Discuss this article



Related Stories


US states shut out engg imports



People Who Read This Also Read


Trade Can-Can at Cancun

WTO draft resolution

India hopeful of TRIPS solution







Copyright © 2005 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.