BHURBAN, Sep 9: Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath on Friday linked the success of Hong Kong Ministerial Conference with the changes in the perception and positions of the US and EU member countries particularly on agriculture issues. Addressing a press conference here, the Indian minister said that the next 12 weeks are very crucial and unless the main players EU and the US change their perceptions and positions the Hong Kong meeting would not be able to move forward.
He also called for achieving results at the Hong Kong conference to make global trade not only free but fair as well. He cautioned against converting the Doha development round into a market access round.
He reiterated that the developed countries should be prepared to accept 100/100 concept wherein the developed countries bind 100 per cent of their tariff lines in ad valorem terms with a cap in tariff at 100 per cent. He said the time had now changed than what used to be 5 to 10 years ago, and now the developed countries should take care of the interests of the developing countries.
Elaborating the progress at G-20 meeting, he said that G-20 countries were trying to find some middle ground and achieve consensus to safeguard their interests in global trade. Mr Nath said creating of artificiality of prices to safeguard interests of their agriculture sector by the European Countries, United States and other developed countries provide direct subsidies to their farmers at the cost of interests of the poor countries farmers.
There should be free and fair trade providing equal opportunities to the farmers globally, he said adding, the farmers of India and Pakistan can compete farmers of the United States but not the government of the United States which provides subsidy to its farmers.
He said this artificiality of prices was neither fair nor would free trade in the world. It is very important that the whole basis of WTO should be free, and fair trade is enshrined in their agriculture agreements.
The minister said that this was Doha development round and the developmental expects could not be overtaken by the ambitions of the developed countries, he said adding, even in the areas of services on various pretexts the offer made by the developed countries were very poor or inadequate.
Replying to a question, Indian commerce minister said the G-20 held detailed discussions and was trying to find a middle course but the basics and the artificialities in agriculture must go. The developmental experts of developing countries must be at the heart of any settlement. After completion of discussion a declaration would be issued for the press tomorrow, he added.
He said agriculture was a very challenging subject and every country had different problems and faces on different aspects it was facing. However, he said, G-20 was making efforts to find out amicable solution to all problems as it form 70 per cent of the farmers in the world.
G-20 had sorted out most of the big differences during last 5-10 years to send a message for harmonizing the world trade. Each country was trying to take care of their interests, he added.
He said the group was trying to send a message to the developed countries that there must be rule of game safeguarding interests of all the countries.
Earlier, Indian Commerce Minister in his opening remarks at the meeting called for continued maintenance of unity among G-20, G-33, Africa Group, ACP and LDC to achieve development dimension of Doha Agenda.
