4th April, 2003
Ministry of Commerce & Industry  


DOHA AGENDA SHOULD FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

INDIA COMMITTED TO PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS


India has said that the focus of the WTO negotiations currently underway should be on development issues as reflected on the Doha Work Programme, while underlining its commitment to progress in the current negotiations. Expressing concern over lack of meaningful progress on any of the development related issues such as Implementation Issues, Special & Differential (S&D) Treatment, TRIPs & Public Health, India has said that it looks forward to substantial results in these areas before Cancun, including the unresolved issue of low or insufficient manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector, the great human problem affecting millions of people in the poorest parts of the world for which a multilaterally agreed solution would have to be found. "For many developing countries, success of Cancun is predicated upon successful resolution of these key developmental issues", Shri S.N. Menon, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in statements made on behalf of India at the informal and formal sessions of the WTO’s Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) held at the level of capital-based officials in Geneva on 2nd and 4th April, 2003 respectively.

Regarding negotiations on agriculture, India has said that it attaches the highest priority to S&D provisions and looks forward to early discussions on such crucial concepts as Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) and Special Safeguard Measures (SSM), as early resolution of these issues would be for India a major component of the results of the negotiations on agriculture, while noting the lack of balance in the progress of negotiations as well as the missed deadline so far. On non-agricultural market access, Shri Menon said that India was keenly looking forward to engaging constructively in further discussions in the Negotiating Group on Market Access in the light of the proposal which has already been put forward by India in line with the Doha mandate. "For India and for many other developing countries, we expect an outcome that fully factors in the financial and developmental needs of developing countries, the concept of less than full reciprocity and emphasis on market access for products of export interest to developing and least developed countries. We are working closely with other developing and least developed countries in this area and are looking forward to the Chairman’s proposals, which, we are sure, will put development at the centre stage…. On services, we believe that there will be progress on the basis of the momentum that is being generated by the request and offer process and the bilateral negotiations thereof", the statement said.

On Singapore Issues, India reiterated that further expansion of the agenda would be unproductive. "Even as it is, we are struggling with the existing agreements, as evidenced by the fact that we have not been able to meet any of the deadlines decided upon by the Ministers at Doha", the statement said. Referring to the contours of decisions to be taken at Cancun, it said: "It is extremely difficult at this point of time to envisage the shape of things as it would emerge during the next few months. Much would depend upon our ability to complete the work in respect of the issues for which deadlines have already been laid down, including those that we have missed. This again would depend on strong political commitment. I would also urge you, Mr. Chairman, to decide, in consultation with Heads of Delegations here at Geneva, how you can make the meetings of the Trade Negotiations Committee more productive and purposeful".

 
[previous release] [next release]