US not serious on Doha talks, says India

India today said the US is not serious about Doha negotiations in Geneva for a WTO agreement on opening global trade.

"... Their (the US) ambassador (to WTO) is not in place. Their negotiators are still not confirmed ...," Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said at an Assocham function here.

Citing examples of lack of seriousness, Khullar said in the services negotiations, last week, India had sent officials of the rank of Additional Secretaries, while junior level functionary of the US was present.

The US Trade Representative Ron Kirk was absent at the informal meeting of trade ministers at Davos last month on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual conference.

Trade analysts find protectionists signals coming from the US which may dim the prospects of the conclusion of much delayed Doha Round of talks in 2010.

"...Protectionists signals from the US could act as an obstacle in the conclusion of the Doha Round of talks," Rakesh Mohan Joshi, international trade expert with India's prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) said.

The negotiating round which began in 2001 with an intention of opening the global trade has missed several deadlines in the past.