M A I N   N E W S

Doha meet ends in win-win situation for South
New round for global trade approved

Doha, November 15
India moved to the centrestage as 144 trade ministers after six days of tough negotiations arrived at a consensus yesterday to launch a broad-based new development round for more liberal global commerce expected to benefit developing countries, especially in agriculture.

Though yet another fiasco like Seattle loomed large till the last minute due to adamant posturing by the European Union (EU) and the USA, the marathon conference at a pictursque gulf-side hotel in the Qatari capital saw the launch after some yielding on some of the key areas of concern to the developing countries.

India shot into limelight at the conference as it spearheaded the developing countries’ cause but Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran ultimately yielded some ground after the EU showed some flexibility on contentious issues like investment, competition, government procurement and trade facilitation.

But for some of the developing countries, including Pakistan, backtracking, apparently due to certain trade-offs, the gains could have been more, a trade negotiator from Cuba, who supported India till the last, said.

After almost blocking the agreement on the four contentious Singapore issues, India agreed for a consensus on the declaration by the 142-member body following a clarification by the conference Chairman that negotiations on these issues would be held only after an “explicit consensus” was reached at the fifth ministerial conference two years from now.

The clarification from the Chairman, Qatar Finance Minister Yousuf Kamal, came by way of a separate statement which was attached to the ministerial declaration to accommodate India. PTI

Highlights

Agriculture: Cuts in tariffs, reduction of export subsidies with a view to phasing out substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic subsidies.

Services: Increasing access for banking, insurance and other companies and increasing opportunities for people to work in other countries.

Non-agricultural goods: Reducing and eliminating tariffs and other barriers, particularly on products that are important to developing countries.

WTO rules: Subsidies for goods like steel and textiles and when anti-duties could be imposed on them.

— Improvements to the system for settling disputes.

Environment: The relationship between WTO rules and international environmental treaties, reducing or eliminating tariffs on environmental goods and services, fisheries subsidies.

— Establishing a system of registration and protection for wines and spirits known by the Region where they are made like Champagne. Extension of this geographical indications to other items like basmati to be looked into.

Singapore issues — Investment, Competition policy, Transparency in Government Procurement and Trade facilitation could be subject of negotiations in two years, if all governments arrive at a consensus.