Cautiously welcoming fresh WTO proposals in Doha Round on agriculture, India said on Tuesday it would protect its poor farmers who cannot be expected to bear the burden of trade distorting subsidies in rich countries.
Reacting to the revised draft modalities put out by the WTO in Geneva on February 8, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said while convergence has been achieved in some areas, brand new text with regard to many unresolved issues has also been brought out.
He said before giving its final views, India would hold consultations with other developing countries and domestic stakeholders. However, he made it clear that "significant and effective reduction of trade distorting subsidies of the developed countries is an issue on which there can be no compromise".
On the new proposals on industrial products, Nath said the Indian industry would need greater flexibilities as compared to the industries in the developed countries.
He expressed "surprise" at the removal of numbers on Para 8 of the Non-Agricultural Market Access text, which deals with flexibilities for the developing countries and has been on the table since July 2004.
Nath said he was happy that the new draft on agriculture brings back on the table the original G-20 proposals of a minimum 54 per cent cut in agricultural tariff by developed countries and maximum tariff cut of 36 per cent for developing nations.
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