India objects to US influence on proposals for WTO meet

Geneva, July 19 (PTI) India today strongly objected to
the US proposing to limit flexibilities of the developing
countries on their obligations for market opening agreement
being negotiated under Doha Round of World Trade Organization
(W.T.O.).

India's concerns on agriculture and industrial goods were
conveyed to Director General of World Trade Organisation
Pascal Lamy by Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath,
ahead of the crucial mini-Ministerial meeting being convened
here from July 21.

About 40 trade ministers are participating in the
five-day deliberations to reach a consensus on modalities for
concluding the much-delayed negotiating round launched in
2001.

"Flexibilities for developing countries have to be
adequate and appropriate for addressing the sensitivities of
individual members," a statement quoting Nath said.

The negotiating text on opening the market for industrial
goods released on May 19 did not satisfy India which said it
had caveats on flexibilities at the instance of the U.S.

Nath is holding a series of bilateral meetings in the
run-up to the mini-Ministerial seeking support for interest of
the developing countries.

The key players, he is interacting with, include
Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and Argentina's
Secretary of State of Commerce and International Relations
Alfredo Chiaradia. PTI RR
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