India has "walk-out" option; flexible on industry in WTO talks

[suguhopes]

India said on Wednesday that it has an option to "walk out" of the
forthcoming WTO talks in Geneva if its concerns on agriculture are not
met but is willing to show flexibilities in cutting tariffs in select
industries.


"We have full option to walk out.. and there can be no agreement
unless India agrees," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said
asserting that India's interest on agriculture are not "negotiable".



Commenting on the latest proposals for total elimination of duties in
certain industrial sectors, Nath said, "We cannot agree on sectorals
as an agreement, but we are willing to examine it and see how we can
move forward on this."



The World Trade Organisation is convening a five-day meeting in its
headquarters from 21st July in an effort to give the final and
decisive push to the Doha Round of trade talks which have not reached
a consensus on tariff cuts between the developed and developing
countries since 2001.



The Indian industry has been strongly opposing the draft proposals of
the negotiating group on industrial goods which want countries to
agree for complete opening of sectors.



Nath said while India would not agree for eliminating duties on
automobiles, textile and chemicals, it is ready to consider proposals
for sectors like gems and jewellery.



"We are willing to look at this because we have our gems and jewellery
sector which is strong...We have strengths in some areas," he said.



He said India would make no compromise on the issues of vital interest
to small and vulnerable farmers.



"The Special Safeguards Mechanism and Special Products (windows for
protecting agriculture from imports) are not negotiable. They are make
or break issues," he said at a news conference in New Delhi.

N.Sukumar
Research Analyst