"We have suggested to create within the WTO a food security box, which is precisely focused on needs of countries like India and will work as a sort of a safeguard instrument in case agricultural trade creates a risk for food security of these countries," EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said on Monday night.
The proposal, we believe is something that addresses the concerns of net food importing countries, which sometimes are different from concerns of countries which have a huge export potential as is the case with India and several African countries, he said soon after unveiling EU's proposals on agriculture submitted to the WTO council.
EU's proposal seeks to cut import tariffs on farm products by 36 per cent, slash export subsidies by 45 per cent and reduce trade distorting domestic farm support by 55 per cent.
Referring to the December 31 deadline for reaching an agreement on issues under TRIPS and Public Health, Lamy said, "The chair of the TRIPS council has just a few hours ago tabled another proposal which the EU is willing to support.
"We are working very hard on trying for special access to medicines to developing countries which have no domestic capacity before the end of the year. The proposal tabled by the chair of the TRIPS councils addresses each of the aspects. I can tell you that EU is ready to support the proposal," Lamy said.
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