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Harish Damodaran

New Delhi March 15 The list of `Special Products' identified by the Agriculture Ministry for special tariff treatment as part of the World Trade Organisation's current Doha Round negotiations include all cereals: rice, wheat, maize, sorghum (jowar) and millet (bajra).

At the same time, pulses are not covered, ostensibly because the country has no choice but to import keeping in view domestic production constraints. Among edible oils, soyabean, rapeseed-mustard and castor are included, but not palm oils — perhaps a `developing country' concession extended to Malaysia. Sugar and cotton are also notable omissions, despite their confirming to the `rural development' and `livelihood security' criteria.

The other Special Products figuring in the Agriculture Ministry list include a range of fruits (apples, grapes, oranges), vegetables (onion, garlic), spices and condiments (pepper, ginger, turmeric, saffron), beverages (coffee and tea), dairy products (cheese, milk powder, curd, casein), poultry and other meat, and liquor (whiskey, wines).

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