India hardens stand at WTO

With the crucial General Council meeting beginning on Tuesday and sharp divisions continuing on agriculture, India has said that for developing countries "no framework agreement' would be better than a bad framework agreement for future negotiations that lack balance and equity.

With several developing countries opposing the draft, there are now clear indications that there could be a revised draft to the one tabled on July 16.

"A revised draft will be available by Wednesday 28 July at the latest", General Council chairperson Shotaro Oshima has said.

This would be the last substantial draft although some further changes could be negotiated, and Friday 30 July remains the absolute deadline, he said.

Commerce and Industry minister Kamal Nath met Supachai Panitchpakdi, director-general, World Trade Organisation last evening and said India will not compromise on issues affecting livelihood concerns of the millions of her farmers, most of whom were at the level of bare subsistence.

"Developed countries must understand that (in agriculture) we are battling not so much for trade as for subsistence and therefore we cannot compromise on subsistence risking in the process, social and economic upheavals," he said.

Nath said that the principles of special and differential treatment and the issue of effective cuts in domestic support by the developed countries and not just shifting subsidies would be important. in ensuring a balanced text.