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Commerce Secretary GK Pillai has said that it may be difficult to support a draft World Trade Organisation pact on cutting agriculture subsidies as the new proposals are too “complicated”.
“If you are serious about the Doha Round, make it simple and don't complicate things,” Pillai said. “How do you complete it with such a text?”
The revised text on farm issued on May 19 included a formula for cutting agriculture subsidies and tariffs as part of wider negotiations. The 77-page document raised the chance of clinching a final deal this year, prompting calls for a meeting of ministers in June.
Commerce Minister Kamal Nath had expressed reservations on subsidies and safeguard mechanisms on May 22 in Auckland regarding the new texts.
India is discussing future WTO strategy with like-minded countries and seeking to protect its farmers' interests against the richer countries on the so-called overall trade-distorting domestic support and other issues, Pillai said
“They are fighting for the prosperity of their farmers and I'm fighting for the livelihood of my farmers,” Pillai said. India won't make any commitments on legal services at the current round of WTO talks. (Source: Bloomberg)
May 29, 2008
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