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India to study the fine print of EU common agri policy
New Delhi, June 27: India was today guarded in its reaction to European Union farm ministers` `historic` accord to reform its disputed common agricultural policy (CAP) that is widely expected to break the logjam over the contentious agriculture negotiations at the WTO.
New Delhi, June 27: India was today guarded in its reaction to European Union farm ministers' "historic" accord to reform its disputed common agricultural policy (CAP) that is widely expected to break the logjam over the contentious agriculture negotiations at the WTO.
"We'll have to study the fine print first... I can't say anything now," commerce minister Arun Jaitley said when asked to respond on EU's reformed cap unveiled yesterday.
WTO's recent mini-ministerial meeting at Cairo had failed to make a headway on the issue of agriculture and market access pending the Luxembourg meeting of EU agriculture ministers, and the key member countries have decided to meet again at Montreal in July to iron out differences before the Cancun ministerial in September.
At Cairo mini-ministerial last week, there were three sets of views on agriculture with US and Cairns Group willing to consider reduction in farm subsidies only if EU makes a commitment in this regard.
The US was apparently trying to balance agriculture with Singapore issues in a bid to persuade EU to agree to cut farm subsidies for a better market access.
EU's position was that it could consider such proposals only after the outcome of Luxembourg EU council meeting.
Japan took the extreme position of virtually rejecting the Stuart Harbinsons' draft while countries like India wanted a "window" to provide special and differential treatment and safeguard mechanisms to protect the interest of its farmers.
On trips, Jaitley said there seems to be some movement forward but felt "...We will have to keep our fingers crossed".
Bureau Report
"We'll have to study the fine print first... I can't say anything now," commerce minister Arun Jaitley said when asked to respond on EU's reformed cap unveiled yesterday.
WTO's recent mini-ministerial meeting at Cairo had failed to make a headway on the issue of agriculture and market access pending the Luxembourg meeting of EU agriculture ministers, and the key member countries have decided to meet again at Montreal in July to iron out differences before the Cancun ministerial in September.
At Cairo mini-ministerial last week, there were three sets of views on agriculture with US and Cairns Group willing to consider reduction in farm subsidies only if EU makes a commitment in this regard.
The US was apparently trying to balance agriculture with Singapore issues in a bid to persuade EU to agree to cut farm subsidies for a better market access.
EU's position was that it could consider such proposals only after the outcome of Luxembourg EU council meeting.
Japan took the extreme position of virtually rejecting the Stuart Harbinsons' draft while countries like India wanted a "window" to provide special and differential treatment and safeguard mechanisms to protect the interest of its farmers.
On trips, Jaitley said there seems to be some movement forward but felt "...We will have to keep our fingers crossed".
Bureau Report