New Delhi, Dec 08: The United States has offered to reduce domestic support to its farm sector, to phase out export subsidies in products of particular interest to developing countries, and to provide further market access through tariff reductions and expansion of tariff rate quotas. But developing countries, including the g-20 alliance on agriculture, maintain that the offer of farm sector reforms by developed countries does not meet objectives of the Doha mandate.
Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley today told the Rajya Sabha that the Doha mandate calls for substantial reduction in trade-distorting domestic support, phasing out all forms of export subsidy and substantial improvement in market access.
It should also be ensured that special and differential treatment for developing countries is an integral part of all aspects of negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Jaitley said during question hour.
He said no agreement could be reached in negotiations on agriculture at the WTO conference held in Cancun, Mexico, from September 10 to 14. The next ministerial round will be held in Hong Kong but no dates have been finalised.
The minister said India continues to support smooth functioning of a fair and rules-based multilateral trading system. To achieve further progress in the negotiations, all WTO members will have to show genuine commitment to re-energise these negotiations.
Bureau Report