BANGALORE, APR 11: Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde today hit out at developed nations accusing them of imposing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on certain Indian exports on ``flimsy and silly grounds''.Hegde told a seminar on ``World Trade Organisation (WTO) issues'' that the intentions of developed countries were not always ``absolutely honest'' and their actions were ``entirely and exclusively'' prompted by their own self-interests.India was not against the WTO or the World Trade System if it was beneficial to all-developed, developing and least developed nations, he said. The seminar was organised by ``Shramik Shakti'', the labour wing of Hegde's Lok Shakti.Wto should not mean free trade for the developed countries and restricted trade for developing and the least developed nations, he said and added, ``unfortunately, this is what is happening now''.He said there were several instances where the European Union (EU) and the United States had resorted to anti-dumping and anti-subsidyduties though the Indian products had in no way caused any injury to their interests.Citing an instance, Hegde said the EU had banned Indian marine products on the ground that they were not washed in clean water which was however lifted later.Similarly, involvement of child labour was cited by developed nations for their actions without realising that there were certain traditional skills, like carpet making in Jammu and Kashmir, which were passed on from generations, he said.Hegde said India was the first country to adopt the recommendations of a commission on child labour but the developed countries were acting as if only they were concerned about the child labour.``We know the conditions in America. They (developed nations) behave as if they are angels'', Hegde said.The government, he said, had devised ways to help Indian exporters neutralise the additional burden that they would have to bear due to imposition of ``anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties''.Hegde said the government had alsoset up committees of experts as also of secretaries of relevant departments to advise it on the position India should take on WTO matters.He said having joined the WTO, India should think of making the best use of the world body while protecting its national interests.``No country can live in isolation today. As long as we have the self-confidence to face competition in terms of quality and cost, we need not be afraid'', he observed, adding that, ultimately, there should be free trade.He also stressed that India would have to remain vigilant in the coming five years so that ``inroads that are detrimental to our national interests are not made into our economy''.India was under ``nobody's influence'' and ``nobody can dictate to us to adopt a particular course of action,'' Hegde said.
