GoM discusses WTO ahead of Cabinet meet

The group of ministers on World Trade Organisation (WTO) headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee met on Wednesday to fine-tune India’s negotiating strategy on important issues.

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, who is leading the Indian delegation to the Unctad XI meet beginning on June 13 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, pointed out that while the thrust of India’s stand at the WTO negotiations will remain the same as before, certain changes were being made in India’s strategy on agriculture, given the recent proposals submitted by the EU and the US. The GoM will submit its proposal to the Cabinet committee on WTO headed by the Prime Minister on Thursday for clearance.

Apart from the Unctad meeting, India will attend the meeting of G-20 nations on agriculture and a special meeting of five key discussants in the agriculture negotiations.