Friday, June 6, 2008

Minister speaks on agriculture negotiations

by Jo Black

Mr. Kamal Nath, Indian Minister of Commerce & Industry, has informed that in the Agriculture negotiations, safeguarding the interests of India’s low income and resource-poor agricultural producers remains paramount and this cannot be traded off against any gains elsewhere in the negotiations.

While addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee Meeting of his Ministry, on the subject “Status of Doha Round Negotiations”, the Minister spoke of the need to defend market access for agriculture against tariff cuts, and an overall cut of more that 36% in bound rates would be unacceptable.

On the issue of domestic support to agriculture, Kamal Nath said that the G-20, of which India is a member, has been demanding substantial and effective cuts in overall trade-distorting domestic support by the developed countries.

Nath also informed the members that India has reached a critical stage.

The Chairs of the Negotiations Groups on Agriculture and NAMA are expected to bring out revised texts in early May.

A Ministerial level meeting is likely to be held towards the end of May.

On Special Products (SPs), Nath said that it has been made clear that this issue is critical to the livelihood of subsistence farmers and food security.

On Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM), he informed the Members that a lot of work remains to be done as the present proposals are cumbersome, restrictive and ineffective.

On non-agricultural market access (NAMA), the Minister said that it has been made clear that the mandate of less than full reciprocity (LTFR) in reduction commitments by developing countries must be respected which means lower percentage reduction from bound rates by developing countries vis-à-vis the commitments by developed countries.

Flexibilities available only to developing countries for protecting sensitive tariff lines from the impact of tariff reductions or bindings are an inviolable part of the mandate and crucial for safeguarding livelihood and employment concerns.

 

 

 

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