HYDERABAD: The Government will strive to protect the interest of farmers at the WTO Hong Kong ministerial conference next month. If the agreement goes against their interest it will be rejected, asserted G. K. Pillai, Additional Secretary, Commerce, here on Tuesday.

Delivering the inaugural address at a seminar on "WTO and India: A roadmap for Hong Kong ministerial conference", organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Centre for Trade and Development, he said the Government would protect farmers' interests "at all costs".

Government would discuss WTO issues in the ensuing session of Parliament and take them up with different sections, including farmers and policy-makers, he said.

Non-tariff barriers

On the imposition of non-tariff barriers sought by the West on developing nations, he said they "were a hard reality and we have to face them." The way out was to block western products, which hurt the countries. If that happens they would be forced to come to the negotiating table.

On the issue of quality, he advised farmers to meet WTO standards and take to exports, Mr. Pillai said, emphasising on compliance with WTO standards.

Earlier, welcoming the delegates, who included representatives from the Government, academics and civil and research organisations, Sudhir Sanghi, co-chairman, FAPCCI, Andhra Pradesh State council, said it was committed to rule-based multilateral trading system.

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