The Hindu : Cabinet committee on WTO clears approach paper

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 24, 2003

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Cabinet committee on WTO clears approach paper

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Aug. 23. The Cabinet Committee on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) today approved India's approach paper for negotiations at the ministerial conference being held in Mexico next month. The committee, presided over by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was given a presentation on the subject by the Commerce Ministry before giving the final clearance.

The committee considered the various issues presented by the Ministry which explained that there was a sharp divide between developed and developing countries on the Doha round of trade negotiations. The agriculture and investment issues are expected to dominate the discussions at Cancun, and India is seeking to form close alliances with other developing countries, according to official sources.

The Commerce and Industry Minister, Arun Jaitley, has announced the formation of a 17-member coalition which has presented an alternative paper on agriculture at the WTO in Geneva. The proposed new framework for an agreement on agriculture has been formulated in response to the proposals made by the U. S. and the European Union and this does not indicate much forward movement in reducing their huge subsidies.

Significantly, China has joined hands with India as well as Mexico to become a co-sponsor for this paper which is likely to give the new coalition greater strength at the coming ministerial conference.

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