Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the Doha Round of negotiations should remain firmly on the WTO’s agenda instead of being diverted from dealing with developing countries’ concerns by “new issues” being pushed by advanced countries led by the US.
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Trade Minister Andrew Robb has launched a scathing attack on the World Trade Organisation’s negotiating role saying it faces a “genuine crisis”. “Undue haste in pushing select (matters which are) subject of interest (of developed countries) worrying”. “So this deal has significant meanings for free agriculture trade, and, particularly, for farmers’ income and the growth of agriculture in developing countries”.
The WTO reached deals on agricultural export subsidies, food aid and other issues on Saturday (Nairobi time), capping a ministerial conference in the Kenyan capital.
There are also rumours that talks could be extended by a day to allow time to trade ministers to reach a workable solution.
The statement assumes significance as developed countries have stated that they do not want to move ahead with the Doha Round, negotiations for which started in 2001.
Indian High Commissioner Suchitra Durai said she was hopeful that the WTO meeting would come up with favourable conditions for all nations.
On his part, Ambassador Cabral said his country was fast-tracking plans to establish a trade office in Kenya to boost investments, noting the need for nations to strengthen diplomatic ties and ensure balance of trade. The extension period will enable Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to address challenges in public health including access to cheaper drugs.
The new Nairobi Declaration includes the elimination of agricultural export subsidies and further tariff reduction for information and technology products.
Despite leaders’ gushing praise for the decision on farm export subsidies, the meeting still failed to make much progress on the long-stalled Doha negotiations. “Given the scale and significance of New Zealand’s agricultural export earnings, the removal of any instrument that can distort market forces and disadvantage our exporters is an important step forward”, says Federated Farmers National President Dr William Rolleston.
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The import duties on some 200 high-tech products will be cut over the next 7 years.
