HONG KONG, Dec 17: G-20 member countries on Saturday cautiously welcomed the steps taken in agriculture negotiations and stressed upon the developed nations, especially the European Union and the United States, to be more flexible in accommodating developing countries’ concerns in the next 24 hours.

Addressing a joint press conference on behalf of developing and least developed countries (LDCs) following the release of the revised text, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said that the text did not reflect major concerns of developing countries. “The draft text is modest and much below our expectations,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a meeting of heads of delegations on revised text, Mr Amorim on behalf of the G-20 said that the group had changed the nature of negotiating process in the WTO, playing a constructive role, enhancing transparency and promoting inclusiveness.

He said: “The text before us marginally improves the original draft. Even within the confines of limited expectations, it should have gone farther. An unequivocal reaffirmation on the July 2004 framework was required. Furthermore, it was necessary to make clear that developing countries’ members would be placed on a fourth band for the purpose of cutting their AMS and their over all trade distorting support. Also, we should provide for a linear cut in market access, so as to be in line with amendments in other areas of the declaration.”

He said further that setting the date for the elimination of all forms of export subsidies could provide an impetus to the negotiation process.

Earlier, in a press conference, the Brazilian minister said that the 110 members would still mount pressure on developed countries to make them agree for giving a specific end date for the elimination of all kinds of export subsidies. He made it clear that the text would be discussed in the next 24 hours before making any possible declaration.

Mr Amorim supported the linking of trade negotiations in the areas of agriculture with that of industrial goods.

In reply to a question, he said: “We stood united on the farm issues.” However, he added that the minor development made would be used as a guiding principle for putting negotiations back on track.

Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath said the text on agriculture was a step forward, but added that much had to be done for addressing the concerns of developing countries. “The developing round is that the trade to flow from developing to developed countries. We saw in Hong Kong that the rich countries wanted it to move from developed to developing countries,” he remarked.

He said the rich nations like the EU were reluctant to give an end date on export subsidies which was very simple and clear. He, however, welcomed the amendments which gave developing countries the right to choose special products and special safeguarded mechanism for developing countries.

Answering a question, he said the new draft had small technical improvements. However, the movement in other areas will be made in case there is a substantial move in the area of agriculture.

Zambian Commerce Minister Dipat K.A. Patel, who is also a coordinator of the LDCs, said the issue of cotton was not addressed in the revised text to “our expectation”.