Left seeks clearer picture on WTO

While the date for the next meeting has not yet been fixed, the 14 points raised by the Left have been passed by the Prime Minister’s Office to the Commerce Ministry for replies. It seems the Left’s decision to make WTO its agenda has roots in the fact that the Commerce Ministry has moved the Cabinet for approval of its strategy at the ministerial talks scheduled to take place in Hong Kong this December.

‘‘The Left wants to be kept in the loop over the WTO issues, that their concerns are kept in mind before any commitments are made,’’ said a Commerce Ministry official.

The Left wants the government to spell out its approach to tarriff reduction; reduction in subsidies in developing countries; trade distorting domestic support by developed countries in the agricultural sector; TRIPS on account of public health; non-tariff quotas and developing special safeguards with respect to agricultural commodities.

The Left has also opposed the ‘‘Swiss formula (basically sharp cuts in tariff)’’ and asked for an average reduction for developing countries.

Interestingly, the UPA government has decided to do away with the earlier ‘‘breakfast meetings’’ following a request by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, who felt that discussions should not digress over ‘‘idli and sambar.’’ So, the last coordination meeting was held after lunch.

At Sunday’s meeting, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had assuaged Left’s fears of multinationals like GE-Alsthom using the FII route to take control over BHEL. He had made a clear-cut distinction between the FIIs and FDI and maintained that part of the proceeds of the 10 per cent sale of BHEL would go to pro-poor schemes. The CPI, however, refused to bite the bait and the CPI(M) indicated that they did understand the government’s standpoint but had explaining to do at its central committee.

A coordination meeting for Left only

NEW DELHI: Sidelined on the oil price hike and BHEL disinvestment issues, the Left parties have decided to hold their own coordination meeting on June 26. ‘‘It is going to be a Left-only coordination meeting to decide on the future course of action. We will discuss the June 28 programme on oil price, as well as the government’s move on disinvestment of profit-making PSUs,’’ said CPI’s D. Raja.

The Left leaders will also discuss their strategy for the Monsoon session, which is likely to begin from July 25, at the meeting. —ENS