The final draft text of a WTO ministerial declaration circulated Tuesday identified textiles as a major obstacle to an agreement on the agenda for a new round of talks to liberalise world trade. In a preamble dealing with the implementation of past market-opening pacts, an issue dear to the hearts of developing countries, the draft says: ''Apart from textiles and clothing, the revised text proposes compromise solutions in an attempt to deal with difficulties'' some countries had with the previous draft.
Delegates said India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in particular were holding out for firm pledges from rich countries, especially the United States and Canada, to open their markets much more quickly to textile products. The ten-page text was thrashed out on the final day of a five-day World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting sue to end at midnight (0230 hrs IST).
Bureau Report