India reiterates opposition to new issues at WTO

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 5. India has reaffirmed its position that no new issues should be included in the negotiating agenda of the World Trade Organisation unless there is an explicit consensus on the subject. Besides, it has stressed that implementation concerns of developing countries arising out of non-fulfilment of the promises made in the Uruguay Round by developed countries must be addressed upfront before the fourth WTO ministerial conference at Doha in November.

This position was reiterated by the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, at the recent informal meeting of Trade Ministers in Mexico.

In his interventions, he said the implementation concerns raised by developing countries was not imaginary and cited last year's U.N. panel report which said, ``by far, the main beneficiaries of trade liberalisation have been the industrialised countries''. Therefore, the primary issue was not whether there was a round or not but an agenda which was acceptable to all members.

The Mexico meeting, attended by 17 countries, concluded with substantial differences still remaining, a Commerce Ministry release said. The developing countries complained that the pact signed in 1994 after the Uruguay Round was yet to be fully implemented.

Outlining India's position in various areas, Mr. Maran said on agriculture, the aim was to remove distortions in world trade due to major subsidising countries and to seek policy flexibility to support agricultural development in developing countries. The Doha declaration should acknowledge the legitimate concerns of these countries with regard to food and livelihood security, rural development and rural employment and guarantee real and effective, special and differential treatment.

On investment, he said a binding multilateral agreement would only curtail India's development policy options besides bringing about inequities between the rights and obligations of the home governments - investing countries - and the host governments.

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