New Delhi: With talks on Doha Round
starting this week, BJP has said India should pressurise
developed nations to reduce subsidy to farmers before asking
it to lower tariff.
"The developed countries, including the US, grant huge
subsidies on farm products to protect the interests of their
farmers. Unless there is a significant reduction in subsidy by
the developed countries, why should we consider lowering of
(our) tariff," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.
There were no indications that the developed countries
will reduce the subsidy, Prasad said, adding crores of Indians
are engaged in agriculture and the government should safeguard
their interests.
Officials will resume talks on Doha Round on September
14 in Geneva for global trade agreements. It was deadlocked
since July 2008 but the chief trade ministers have agreed for
talks during last week's Delhi meeting.
Raising other related concerns, he said in the
services sector India is interested in the establishment of
back-up office, and transfer of its population, in which
direction there has been no significant progress so far.
"BJP urges the government to take serious steps to
carry forward negotiations on these and other issues of our
interests," Prasad said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, September 06, 2009, 19:45