Left draws the line, this time on WTO

The Left is against accepting the principle that developed countries will protect their market through tariff barriers while developing countries must do this through non-tariff barriers. The Left feels this position should be rejected outright during the WTO negotiations.

The Left’s note says: ‘‘Developing countries should be allowed to designate a set of special products critical from the point of view of food security, livelihood and rural development.’’ It suggests: ‘‘Developing countries may provide subsidies (outside the scope of reduction commitments) for domestic production of food products for domestic consumption.’’

The note says that as long as developed countries continue with the Blue Box and Green Box subsidies (on domestic support), developing countries should impose direct import controls like quantitative restrictions on agricultural products from them.

There are already essential differences with the government on core issues. One of them deals with the question of market access. The Left believes that the government could give in on this by saying that if it does not relent, the EU and US would pressure India in other areas like MFA, which would harm India as textile is a big earner.

On tariffs, the Left’s view is that if international prices fall drastically, it would be necessary to enhance tariff rates to protect its market. The Left’s position on agriculture issues is a continuation of its position on the neglect of the sector and distress suicides, which was also its main critique of the NDA’s ‘India Shining’ campaign.