Date:18/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/18/stories/2005031800310700.htm

Back FICCI calls for tighter discipline in farm support measures

Our Bureau

New Delhi , March 17

THE Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has urged the G-20 Ministers meeting here on March 18-19 to put the Green Box and Blue Box farm support measures under tighter discipline.

The industry body, in a release, has called for incorporating "explicit criteria which could ensure that blue box does effectively limit production and hence has less distorting effects" in the negotiating framework and modalities.

Pointing out that the provisions for green box measures are too flexible, FICCI has stated, "developed countries have been able to provide large scale support to their farmers under the garb of green box". This has "distorted trade and also harmed the developing countries' farmers," it said.