Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

25-May-2011 10:32 IST

Doha Negotiations should Build on Progress so far: Anand Sharma To participate in WTO Informal Ministerial in Paris

At the informal trade ministers’ meeting on 26th May 2011 after the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Paris Shri Anand Sharma the Commerce & Industry Minister is likely to push for protecting the gains made so far in the Doha Round. India has maintained that negotiations must continue to build on the progress already made. Attempts to unravel or re-open issues on which a lot of progress has been made would be counterproductive. It is clear that with such a complex agenda to be negotiated amongst 154 members, the Round cannot be rushed. It is worth noting that much time and effort has gone into it over the last ten years and the results must not be lost. Shri Sharma is attending the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Paris during 25-26th May 2011. This year’s meeting also marks the 50th anniversary of OECD. After the OECD Ministerial meeting Australia is hosting the informal trade ministers meeting on 26th May 2011. Shri Sharma observed that, “This is a good opportunity to discuss on what lies ahead in Doha, after the DG and the negotiating Chairs brought out the comprehensive reports of 21st April 2011. The reports map the progress made so far while pointing to the wide gaps that remain unresolved across all WTO issues”.

Indian side is clear that reports by the DG and negotiating chairs are by no means revised negotiating texts and so are not meant to change the basis for future negotiations. The texts of December 2008 and the proposals submitted by various members and coalitions remain as the versions under discussion.

It is noteworthy that the developed countries are now seeking to rebalance the perceived “disparity” in the contribution between developed and emerging countries and to achieve, if not equalization, a harmonization of their tariffs. India views such an attempt to shift goal posts as unacceptable and as a violation of the mandate. Sectoral Initiatives were always intended to be a non-mandatory top-up to industrial goods liberalization. After the aggressive cuts by developing countries through the Swiss formula, it would be difficult to accept a mandatory top-up. “Developed countries must appreciate our sensitivities, our autonomous liberalisation, the development dimension and the impact on our local industries”, he further added.

Shri Sharma expressed concern at the attempt to shift the discourse from development to purely mercantilist issues, most of them having scant relevance for developing countries. While highlighting the importance of Doha Round the Minister said, “The Doha Development Agenda is one of the most ambitious attempts at ensuring that the issue of development is firmly at the core of the multilateral trading system. The critical interests to be served are those of protecting the food and livelihood security of farmers and vulnerable industries of developing countries. India is willing and keen to engage with the rest of the membership in all formats and on all issues, to seek constructive solutions to the problems that confront us in the Round”. At the recently concluded India Africa Trade Ministers’ Meeting at Addis Ababa also the Trade Ministers emphasized the development mandate of Doha Round of negotiations and called for the speedy conclusion of the Round and the establishment of a strong multilateral system based on mutually beneficial and balanced outcomes in agriculture, NAMA, services and rules.

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DS/GK

Doha development mandate: maintain negotiated progress and oppose reopening settled issues to preserve developing-country safeguards. Doha Round talks must preserve existing progress and continue on the basis of the December 2008 texts and member proposals; India rejects reopening settled issues or mandatory sectoral top-ups and opposes developed-country attempts to rebalance contributions by pressing tariff harmonization. The Round must retain its development focus, protecting food and livelihood security and vulnerable industries, while India remains willing to engage constructively to achieve balanced, development-centred outcomes.