With less than two days remaining for the World Trade Organisation ministerial to close, it has became clear that all is not well with the pace of negotiations here. Despite a draft text on the development package for the least developed countries being tabled last night, global trade negotiators may not be able to finalise it.

India and the WTO: News and Issues

The US, Kenya, Bangladesh and Pakistan have voiced their opposition to the draft text. While the US says the package should cover only 95 per cent of products, Pakistan and Kenya fear that it will affect some of their exports.

The draft text on LDCs tabled yesterday had tried to take the middle path by incorporating the concerns of both the developed and developing countries.

The text states that the developed and developing countries will provide duty- and quota-free access to markets on a lasting basis because they are in a position to do so. A negotiator has described the text as just an improved Generalised System of Preference since it is not legally binding.