Nath gets a dollar for his 1 dollar comment!

Agencies Posted: Jul 27, 2008 at 1503 hrs
Geneva, July 27: A subsidy cut of one American dollar was all that India's Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath wanted for India to come on board a world trade deal and he literally received one dollar bill from his friend and US Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson.

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab gave Nath a "fancy envelope of the US Treasury" containing a one dollar note for him signed by Paulson. Nath has on more than one occasion dared US to offer real cuts and subsidy for an agreement on the Doha Round of world trade negotiations. He had said that India would be willing to back the deal even if the subsidy cut was just by one dollar.

"Schwab told me you want a one dollar deal... She opened her bag and gave me an envelope from Paulson, who is a friend of mine. He gave a one dollar note and signed it 'To my friend with admiration," Nath said.

"I said even this one dollar Henry Paulson gives me and not Susan Schwab," Nath told PTI.

He remarked that he has improved his offer and is now asking the US to cut trade distorting farm subsidy by 50 cents and India will come on board for a Doha deal.