India has reiterated its support to the World Trade Organisation and the Doha Development agenda but in its annual Economic Survey made it clear that the onus remains on the developed countries to fulfill the promises made so far.
The Survey, tabled in Parliament on Thursday, said India has submitted its comprehensive proposals with a view to safeguarding the food and livelihood security of large subsistence level farming community.
India's proposals aim at maximising export opportunities for Indian agricultural products by seeking a reduction in high tariffs and subsidies prevalent in developed countries. India's efforts regarding the trade policy would be greatly enhanced by steps on part of India's trade partners to reduce, if not remove, the impediments to India's exports, especially in the context of ongoing negotiations in the Doha work programme.
In negotiations on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights and public health, Indian position is that Doha mandate on the subject should not be diluted to restrict scope and definition of diseases to just infectious diseases as desired by some countries like the US.
India has called for higher commitment by developed countries under General Agreement on Trade in services to correct an imbalance in their favour.
India has also submitted its initial thinking on modalities for negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products and views on a number of special and differential clauses relating to agriculture and import rules.
Submissions have also been made for special and differential treatment to developing countries during anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations.
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