NEW YORK: Just a day before the end of the WTO Ministerial conference, trade ministers of India and the US are expected to meet today to discuss issues related with the ongoing meeting of the multi-lateral body.
The meeting of Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the US Trade Representative Michael Froman assumes significance as no consensus has been reached on issues such as special safeguard mechanism (SSM), conclusion of Doha Round, permanent solution for public stockholding for food security purposes and export competition.
Differences have also widened on the draft text on agriculture and Ministerial Declaration.
India has raised serious objections over the language of both the drafts as they have not mentioned about the key issues of India in a proper manner.
India has said that the language is not balanced.
Developed countries do not want to move ahead on the pending issues of the long stalled Doha Round and wants to push new issues such as investments and government procurement.
In the opening Plenary Session of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, Froman said: “New rules on critical 21st century issues, such as e-commerce and the digital economy, are emerging.
The result is a growing gap – stalemate within Doha and progress outside it – which has led many to question whether the WTO’s role in trade negotiations will long endure”.
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