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India, U.S. narrowing gap on Doha round: Kamal Nath

New York: India and the U.S. are increasing their level of convergence on the contentious issues of farm subsidies and market access under the much-delayed Doha Round of negotiations for a global trade deal, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said on Thursday.

They discussed both “our divergences and convergences” including issues of agricultural subsidies by the U.S. and other developed countries, he said after meeting U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab here.

Without reporting any progress on subsidies, he said both countries wanted to move forward on the issue. Ms. Schwab said they also wanted the European Union to move on subsidies.

“There is recognition of India’s sensitivities in agriculture and we have to discuss how these sensitivities are to be addressed,” Mr. Nath added.

When Mr. Nath stressed market access, Ms. Schwab said the Doha Round was primarily, but not exclusively, for market access. Subsidies were an area where the two countries differed but “we both agree that it has to be part of the negotiations,” she added.

“The key is ... to act in a way that would generate growth and be respectful of each other’s ambitions and sensitivities and try to nudge each other and our trading partners to go far as we possible ... to get maximum possible benefits for each other and for the world,” she said. — PTI

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