The Hindu Business Line : WTO chief hopes for framework agreement by July

The WTO Director-General, Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, calling on the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, at his office in the Capital on Friday. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , June 25

THE World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General, Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, on Friday said differences on contentious issues between member-countries were narrowing down and that the signs of flexibility being shown by developed as well as developing countries raises hope of a framework agreement being reached by July-end.

"The signs we are getting are that although countries could not agree on convergence in position, they are negotiating by providing different options for others to consider. So they are still trying to be flexible in their position and this gives me good hope," Dr Panitchpakdi told newspersons after his meeting with the Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, here.

The WTO official, who is visiting India for the first time after the new UPA Government assumed office, also met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram.

Dr Panitchpakdi told newspersons that any deal to break the deadlock in the trade talks would have to take into account the sensitivities of Indian agriculture. "The deal has to take into account the sensitivities of Indian agriculture and this is something which the Ministers of the member-countries are aware of," he said.

On the demands made by India that there should be movement on all three pillars of agriculture negotiations — domestic support, market access and export subsidy — in tandem, Dr Panitchpakdi held that there is agreement on this principle among all participating member-countries.

"The US accepts, the EU also accepts it. Balance between the three pillars is what we are working on. Specificity must be spelled out in all the three areas. This is seriously accepted and this is what we are working on in Geneva," he said.

Dr Panitchpakdi said he had, in his meeting with the Commerce Minister, emphasised the need to have a framework agreement by July-end.