Indian and African trade ministers discussed a joint strategy for the forthcoming World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Nairobi with both favouring a continuation of negotiations on the Doha round after the meet.
“We all (India and African countries) believe in the multilateral trading system. Even after Nairobi, we want continuity of negotiations on issues that are there as part of the Doha round,” said Mike Bimha, Trade Minister of Zimbabwe, addressing a joint press conference following the India-Africa Trade Ministers’ Meeting on Friday.
A group of countries, that include developed nations such as the US, the EU and New Zealand, are in favour of getting an agreement on a handful of issues at Nairobi and then concluding the Doha round. India is opposing it because the Doha round, launched in 2001, is essentially a development round with greater liberalisation obligations on developed countries.
There is an alignment in positions that India and Africa have taken or will take at the WTO, Bimha said. “Together we will be able to represent our region better,” he added.
Food security While the Zimbabwe minister was clear about most African nations supporting continuation of the Doha round beyond the Nairobi ministerial meeting in December, he did not clarify Africa’s position on the controversial issue of food security.
New Delhi is trying to garner support for its demand that the Nairobi ministerial should come up with a permanent solution that would ensure that subsidies given under public procurement programmes for food do not attract penalties. “India sees Africa as a natural partner and together, we can have a positive influence on the future global economic order,” Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said speaking at the meet.