The Hindu : International / India & World : WTO: India, China oppose bid to divide developing countries

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Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

International

International - India & World

WTO: India, China oppose bid to divide developing countries

P.S. Suryanarayana

— Photo: PTI

SHOWCASING THE PRODUCT: Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai showing a Chinese seal to his Indian counterpart Kamal Nath on Monday on the sidelines of the Dalian Informal Ministerial meeting.

SINGAPORE: India and China have expressed resolve to resist attempts at dividing the developing countries during the ongoing negotiations under the framework of the World Trade Organisation Doha Round.

An accord on this and other related issues was reached by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath and Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai ahead of a two-day informal ministerial meeting of the WTO, dubbed the "mini-ministerial," which began at Dalian in China on Tuesday.

Mr. Bo described the tactics of the developed bloc an attempt at creating a "sub-classification of developing countries." Mr. Kamal Nath suggested that "development issues must be addressed upfront" during talks on the Doha agenda which, he said, should be seen essentially as "a development round and not just a market-access round."

Mr. Bo drew attention to the unacceptable ploy of "sub-classification" into three categories — the advanced developing countries, developing nations and the least developed countries. The two Ministers agreed that the entire array of developing countries should be treated as an integral entity and must be accorded "effective special and differential treatment as mandated in the Doha agenda."

The Indian delegation said in a statement that the two sides agreed to work in concert on the basis of their "shared interests and concerns in many areas" including agriculture, non-agricultural market-access and rules.

Mr. Bo told Mr. Kamal Nath that the two countries, which "share many points of convergence," had in the past "paid a price for unfair trade." The developed countries should in fact "take the lead in making commitments" to advance fair trade.

The other points discussed by the two included the need to ensure a "level-playing field" before the developing countries could be asked to open their markets. The elimination of export subsidies by 2010 and the issue of bringing down domestic support in the farm sector also figured prominently.

Non-tariff barriers

Issues relating to non-tariff barriers (NTBs) were on Tuesday included in the agenda of the Group of 20 (G-20) at India's initiative, ahead of the WTO mini-ministerial at Dalian.

The G-20 reaffirmed its "commitment to progress in agricultural negotiations to levelling the playing field by eliminating subsidies and opening up markets in developed countries."

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WTO: India, China oppose bid to divide developing countries