WTO proposals give carve-outs to US: India

"The US and EU have already been given carve-outs in July 10 texts as if they were developing countries. They cannot get carve-outs like LDCs. We oppose these," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said after a series of bilateral meetings.

The July 10 WTO draft on agriculture has extended the base period for calculation of the subsidy cut in a way that would enable the US to give at least five billion dollar extra doles to its farmers, a senior Commerce Ministry official said. Similarly tariff caps have been worked out in a manner to help the rich nations, he said.

The World Trade Organisation is convening a five-day mini-Ministerial Meeting from July 21 for negotiating on two sets of proposals circulated on May 19 and July 10. The drafts, prepared by the negotiating groups on agriculture and industrial goods, have evoked strong reactions from India and several developing other countries.

"There is no hope or scope of any concessions which will compromise India's industries like engineering, chemicals, textiles, automobiles. The provisions for their protection (in July 2004 Framework Agreement and Hong Kong Declaration) cannot be diluted. If this means a breakdown (of talks), so be it," he said.