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India and the US are coming closer to each other and want to resolve the contentious issues of farm subsidies and market access under the Doha Round of negotiations for a world trade deal, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath has said.
Nath and US Trade Representative Susan C Schwab talked about “divergences and convergences”, including issues of agricultural subsidies by the US and other developed countries during their meeting in New York.
Nath said the two nations wanted to move forward on the issue. Ms Schwab said they also wanted the EU to move on subsidies. “There is recognition of India's sensitivities in agriculture and we have to discuss how these sensitivities are to be addressed,” he said.
Ms Schwab said the Doha Round was primarily, but not exclusively, for market access. Subsidies were an area where the two countries differed but “we both agree that it has to be part of the negotiations,” she added.
“The key is ... to act in a way that would generate growth and be respectful of each other's ambitions and sensitivities and try to nudge each other and our trading partners to go far as we possible ... to get maximum possible benefits for each other and for the world,” she said. (Source: Hindu)
May 12, 2008
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