At the Seattle Round of the World Trade Organisation, will farming reforms under the agreement on agriculture be stitched up between the United States and the European Union, as they have maximum clout and money, or will developing countries be able to hold their own? What are India's prospects and what are the issues which are the key to India gaining larger market access for agricultural exports? Dr Ashok Gulati of the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) provides a perspective in an interview with Anand Madhavan.
Q: What does India stand to gain from negotiations at Seattle?
A: If we are able to get market access to the highly protected markets like the East Asian countries, the European Union, I see India exporting about 5 to 7 million tonnes of cereals (wheat and rice) in the coming years. India has nothing to lose and everything to gain, but we have to be aggressive when we negotiate at Seattle.
Q: What are the main clauses under the agreement on agriculture on which India will be negotiating?