The Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister, Mr Anand Sharma, will attend the ‘Eighth Ministerial Conference' of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva from December 15 to 17.

But sources said any initiative for breaking the deadlock on the decade-old Doha Round talks (for a global deal on further liberalisation of trade in agriculture, industrial goods and services) can only be expected after the new US President takes charge in 2013. India, pointing to rising concerns on food security, would oppose any attempt by the developed countries to start a debate on the restrictions imposed by the developing countries on export of food items that result in a spurt in prices, they said.

An official statement said on Monday that there will be three working sessions during the Ministerial Conference centred on: “Importance of the Multilateral Trading System and the WTO”, “Trade and Development” and “Doha Development Agenda”. The conference will also take up the accessions of Russia, Samoa and Montenegro. In the final session, the Ministers will adopt a number of decisions and the Chair will make a concluding statement.

> arun.s@thehindu.co.in

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