India says it will not compromise even if WTO talks collapse

Yoshita Singh

Geneva, July 19 (PTI) India Saturday said it would not
give away concessions committed to developing countries even
if it means "breakdown" of negotiations at the W.T.O. meeting
of trade ministers on Monday, called for infusing urgency into
Doha trade talks.

"There is no hope or scope of any concessions which will
compromise India's industries like engineering, chemicals,
textiles, automobiles. Provisions for their protection (in
July 2004 Framework Agreement and Hong Kong Declaration)
cannot be diluted. If this means a breakdown (of talks), so be
it," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said here.

India also charged that the negotiating texts on opening
markets have given "carve-outs" to the U.S. and E.U.

"The U.S. and E.U. have already been given carve-outs in
July 10 texts as if they were developing countries...They
cannot get carve-outs like LDCs. We oppose these," Nath said.

The July 10 W.T.O. draft on agriculture has extended the
base period for calculation of the subsidy cut in a way that
would enable the US to give at least five billion dollar extra
doles to its farmers, a senior Commerce Ministry official
said. Similarly tariff caps have been worked out in a manner
to help the rich nations, he said.

The World Trade Organisation is convening a five-day
mini-Ministerial Meeting from July 21 for negotiating on two
sets of proposals circulated on May 19 and July 10. The draft
proposals have evoked strong reactions from India and several
other developing countries.

Nath, who attended a meeting of G-33, said the
agriculture alliance of the developing countries "remains
united on the issue of livelihood security of farmers,".