The single ‘developmental’ take-away expected from the Hong Kong Ministerial meet — a much-touted package for the poorest of the world — was received with severe skepticism here. In the final text, strings were attached to the Quota-free, Duty-free access to the EU and US markets, for products originating from Least Developed Countries (LDCs).The stark problems of cotton growers from West African countries also remain unaddressed, as the US has refused to dismantle the generous subsidies doled out to their cotton farmers that result in an artificial depression in world cotton prices. However, the African cotton growing nations, it seems, were ‘arm-twisted’ into signing a ‘deal’ purported to resolve their problems in the draft text. And this is being held up as an example of WTO’s developmental goals fructifying.Instead of granting market access to all products from LDCs, as originally planned, the final text doesn’t offer any such bound commitment and developed countries can restrict such access to 97 per cent of LDCs’ products. This means that the EU and US can restrict access for the very products that LDCs could have an export interest in.Surprisingly, sources say that several developing countries that supported the LDCs’ cause in public speeches, opposed the package for them inside the negotiation rooms. While Pakistan opposed the package claiming its own export interests would be hurt, some other developing countries claimed that they themselves would turn into LDCs, if such unrestricted access was granted in the text. India, however, remained steadfast in its support to the LDCs throughout, even deputing some of its own official delegates to guide the LDCs through the complex maze of negotiations. Commerce and industry Minister Kamal Nath acknowledged that the package for the LDCs “could have been much better. But after 10 years, at least their concerns have been recognized. Moving from market access for 0 per cent products to 97 per cent products is some progress, nevertheless.”As a further show of support to the world’s poorest, Nath has hinted that India is in advanced stages of finalizing a “preferential treatment package for products from LDCs that would be announced as soon as it receives a nod from the Union Cabinet’’.
