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Briefing
Cairns seeks WTO nod for market access
The Cairns Group submitted a proposal to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) calling for greater market access for agricultural goods through cuts in all tariffs, officials said. Sixteen of the 18 farm exporting alliance members, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa, backed the proposal. But Canada stood by its own proposal on market access, which was presented last June. Fiji did not sign it either.The Cairns proposal said countries that had liberalised economies could not compete in distorted world markets against "heavily and unfairly subsidised producers in other countries". Oil prices up on fear of output cut
Oil prices rose 40 cents a barrel here yesterday on fears the Organisation of Oil Producing and Exporting Countries will cut production in January to prop up prices. A barrel of reference light sweet crude for December delivery closed at $34.87 against previous close of $34 a barrel. "Market should dictate the price. We should not set artificial limits. Some countries are talking about a supply cut at the same time when people need more oil", Richardson said, speaking ahead of Friday's energy conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AIRIA's chief is Anil SampatThe All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) has re-elected Anil Sampat as its president for 2000-2001 at its 48th annual general meeting held recently. Sampat is partner at Rubber Industries, Mumbai. Neolac Rubber Manufacturing managing director SK Sarkar has been selected as vice president, while Maharashtra Tyre & Rubber Industries partner Ashok Mittal has been selected as vice president. Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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