The Hindu : National : GoM discusses strategy on trade issues

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Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

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National

GoM discusses strategy on trade issues

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9. A Group of Ministers (GoM), set up by the Cabinet Committee on WTO Affairs, today held a meeting to finalise the strategy on trade issues, especially agriculture, as a precursor to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting in Brazil from June 13.

The group, headed by the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, is expected to present its proposals tomorrow to the Cabinet Committee on WTO.

This will enable the Government to give a mandate to the delegation leaving tomorrow for the UNCTAD conference and the subsequent meeting of the WTO General Council in Geneva.

The Commerce and Industry Minister, Kamal Nath, who is leading the delegation to Brazil, told presspersons that the strategy was being fine-tuned in the light of the proposals on agriculture made by the European Union and the United States.

He said that the delegation was committed to protecting national interest and the livelihood of farmers.

Mr. Mukherjee, who heads the GoM, had led a delegation to the Marrakesh meet in 1994 that led to the creation of the World Trade Organisation.

Other members of the GoM are Mr. Kamal Nath, the Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, the Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, the Rural Development Minister, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, and the Communications and IT Minister, Dayanidhi Maran.

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