The Hindu : National : G-20 rejects agriculture tariff cut plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 09, 2004

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National

G-20 rejects agriculture tariff cut plan

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 8. The Group of 20 developing countries has described the tariff reduction formula for agriculture proposed by the European Union and the United States as "unacceptable."

Rejecting the "blended formula," the group — a coalition of developing countries including India, Brazil, China and South Africa — said it did not enable better access to export markets. The "blended formula" is a combination of the tariff reduction proposals made in the Uruguay Round and what is now known as the "Swiss formula."

According to G-20, this formula would help the developed countries increase protectionism by allowing high tariffs on key agricultural products. In contrast, it would mean that developing countries would have to bear the larger burden of reducing import duties. This would impact on their rural development, food security or livelihood needs. In a statement issued at Geneva, the G-20 said that following the failure to agree on a framework text at the Cancun ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation, an overall assessment of the "blended formula" was carried out.

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