The Hindu Business Line : WTO talks collapse in Geneva

The mini-ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva ended in a deadlock with India loudly complaining that there is no negotiating space for developing countries on concerns raised by them.

In a statement issued by the Department of Commerce in Geneva and made available here, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, said the success for the Doha round now rests on developed countries. He said, "I am going back to India. I cannot be in a meet that does not recognise Indian farmers."

Minimum agenda

In his presentation at the meet, Mr Nath outlined a six-point minimum agenda for the Doha programme suggesting, among others, substantial reduction of trade-distorting subsidies in agriculture along with disciplines, meaningful reduction in agricultural tariffs by developed countries, particularly in products of export interest to developing countries, substantial reduction in industrial tariffs based on a less than full reciprocity in reduction commitments, meaningful special and differential treatment provisions for developing countries, special products, special safeguard mechanism in agriculture and accommodation of specific concerns of vulnerable economies, cotton producers of Africa.

Mr Nath said before leaving Geneva that "the next few weeks are a period of reflection as well as of intense consultations", while reiterating India's commitment to maintaining and strengthening the structure of the multilateral trading system.

Calling the meeting "neither a success nor a disaster", the European Union Trade Commissioner, Mr Peter Mandelson, said a breakthrough must now come before the end of July.

Meanwhile, heads of government of the so-called G6 — Australia, Brazil, Japan, India, the EU and the US — which has been taking the lead in negotiations could soon meet at the G8 summit later this month in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The meeting was fated to end in a deadlock from the beginning as the G6 nations failed to arrive at any consensus as the developing countries sought a quid pro quo on its cuts on industrial tariffs in return for the EU and the US cutting their farm subsidies, reports from Geneva said.

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