India continues to remain steadfast and opposes strong attempts by the developed world to write a new agenda for the World Trade Organisation at the Doha ministerial conference following crucial support from countries of the Like Minded Group (LMG), even as Pakistan seems to be waivering on services in bargain for short-term monetary gains for its ravaged economy. After a hectic round of bilateral consultations with the LMG, that includes countries like Nigeria, Tanzania besides others, the Indian delegation headed by commerce and industry minister Murasoli Maran, exuded confidence to block the new trade negotiation round implying fresh market obligations on the developing nations. The Indian team does not seem bothered about being ''isolated'' and does not even foresee a situation that would call for a vote in case the stalemate continues.
However, a senior official admitted on Thursday evening that ''there cannot be permanent positions in trade. Trade-offs happen in trade''. The mood in the Qatari capital seems business-like with reports of successful parleys between the United States of America and the European Union on the contentious issues of investment and agriculture subsidies. ''In this business -like environment, when there are no street protests and the NGOs remaining low key, there is a lot of pressure on the US and EU to come out with something substantive like the new round,” western delegates said. While some of the Indian watchers are expecting a ''surprise'' from Maran, others foresee a trade-off, particularly in services.
'India might get a trade off in services like the movement of natural persons,'' Secretary General of the Jaipur based Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) Pradeep S Mehta said. Bureau Report