BJP general Secretary Arun Jaitley today defended the position taken by India along with the G-20 countries at the WTO talks in Geneva as ‘‘morally, ethically and economically right’’, but cautioned the Government against any ‘‘impulsive’’ reaction like pulling out of WTO’s mini-ministerial meeting at the end of this month.‘‘Impulsive reactions by Indian negotiators need to be avoided,’’ Jaitley said in the wake of reports that India has announced a pull-out from WTO’s mini-ministerial conference in Geneva.Jaitley said the government had acted ‘‘impulsively’’ in hailing the July 2004 framework agreement in Geneva and the 2005 ministerial conference in Hong Kong, both of which subsequently proved to be non-events. He wanted the UPA government to come out with a measured response this time round.‘‘The government cannot logically announce a pull-out from the WTO and participate in the July-end mini-ministerial meeting. Reactions must be more measured than what we have seen in the last two years.’’Jaitley said India already had the majority of WTO countries behind it over its stand that developed nations must slash farm subsidies. Until the subsidies are eliminated, opening up their markets would be suicidal for poor countries.The Congress party also endorsed the Indian government’s position on the ongoing WTO negotiations, saying farmers of India could not compete with the American treasury. ‘‘Congress believes it is an unequal, non-level playing field and US and EU subsidies are distorting trade,’’ Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said here today. ‘‘The present WTO talks must necessarily focus on developing countries and issues relating to them must take lead,’’ he said.
