The Hindu Business Line : India rejects US charge of being Doha Round spoilsport

WASHINGTON: India on Friday rejected the US charge that it is blocking the Doha Round of trade talks but said the officials of the two countries will intensify their engagement in Geneva to streamline the differences on cut in duties on industrial and fa rm goods.

"For us, the Doha Round is as important as it is to the United States or any other country. The criticism (of India) is unfair and inaccurate," Mr Kamal Nath, Union Minister, Commerce and Industry, said at his session with Talk Show host Charlie Rose.

Mr Nath met the US Trade Representative Ms Susan Schwab yesterday and discussed ways to move forward in the multilateral trade negotiations, which have not achieved any breakthrough since the launch of the Doha Round in 2001.

Mr Nath and Ms Schwab agreed for more active engagement at the official level in Geneva, the headquarters of the World Trade Organisation.

"They agreed that every effort should be made to conclude the Doha Round as expeditiously as possible. To this end, senior officials of the two countries would intensify their engagement at Geneva over the coming weeks to narrow the differences and to bu ild on convergences," an Indian Embassy release said.

A senior US official had earlier this week blamed India for wrecking the trade talks by "working behind the scenes".

At the US Chamber of Commerce meeting, Mr Nath said he was optimistic about success of the Doha Round.

"This Round is about respecting each other's sensitivities," he remarked. He said the sensitivities of different countries need to be harmonised. "No country can get everything, but no country is going to give everything away," he added. - PTI

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