Maran makes case for fair trade

These, he said, related to anti-dumping measures, subsidies, intellectual property rights and the failure of farm trade and textiles trade liberalisation benefits to accrue. This was why, Maran said, developing countries were concerned about implementation. He pointed out that some developed countries, even while admitting to implementation shortcomings, opposed resolving these problems on the ground that they would involve renegotiation of these agreements.

This was a 8220;disturbing8221; signal. Again, striking a positive note that used to be entirely absent from India8217;s tone in past multilateral trade meetings, Maran declared India8217;s willingness to explore the roles of e-commerce and Information Technology.

On agricultural trade, he took the offensive by demanding that developed countries eliminate export subsidies, while stressing India8217;s old concerns onfood security.

On a proposed multilateral framework on investment rules, Maran said that while India was opening up its foreign investment regime, it saw no need for such a framework. On the environment, he declared India was 8220;second to none8221; in its concern, but would not agree to a sidelining of the WTO8217;s Committee on Trade and Environment something that some developed countries would like.

On labour standards, he reminded the gathering that the WTO8217;s Singapore meeting had agreed that these were the ILO8217;s concern and a move to bring them on board the WTO would cause 8220;deep divisions and distrust that can only harm8230;consensus on our future work programme8221;.

In an impressive performance, the Minister stressed all India8217;s old concerns which in the past earned it the reputation of a naysayer and yet did so with a positive agenda that the West is hard put to question.

Day of the developing country
SEATTLE: The Seattle ministerial conference of the WTO could well turn out to be the day of the developing country.

The United States Trade Representative, Charlene Barshefsky, on Tuesday announced that today would bring a package deal for the WTO8217;s least developed member countries that would entail the elimination of duties on their exports.

This is not the only bow in the direction of the developing world. Prominent among the five working groups set up on Monday by the WTO are one each on market access and implementation issues of the Uruguay Round Trade Agreements, two matters that are close to poor-country hearts.

The reason for such concern is as ever self-interest. The 15-member European Union is, in some views, insisting on a comprehensive round of trade talks to divert attention from its hugely protected farm trade. In other opinions, it is hoping to offset inevitable concessions on farm trade with gains in other sectors through wide-ranging talks.

The WTO, for all its reputation, is truly democratic and offers all 134 members an equal voice and works by consensus. That means that if developing countries the WTO8217;s overwhelming majority balk at a millennium round, it won8217;t happen. Hence the new attentiveness.