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India in intense talks with WTO for convergence: Nath

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Press Trust of India New Delhi

India is in intensive negotiations with key members of the WTO on reaching a multilateral market-opening agreement under the Doha Round, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said.

"We are in very intensive negotiations. At this point of time we need to find convergence," Nath told reporters here.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiation groups on agriculture and industrial products have released fresh proposals, to which India has not yet responded.

The Commerce Ministry will soon approach the Cabinet Committee on the WTO to have negotiations in Geneva on the agenda.

Nath said developing countries are looking at developed nations for "subsistence and livelihood security (of farmers) in this round".

 

"The content of this round must ensure growth in developing countries," he added.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy is keen on holding another Ministerial Meeting in Geneva so that the blueprint for completing the global trade deal is ready in the next few weeks.

The July talks failed mainly on the issue of the level of protection to farmers. While India wanted developing countries to be allowed to impose duties after imports surge 10 per cent, the US had insisted on a threshold of 40 per cent.

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First Published: Dec 11 2008 | 8:46 PM IST

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