WTO talks deadlocked; no progress on farm subsidies

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Abu Dhabi: WTO talks are now in their decisive phase. There are no signs of consensus on any major issue in the WTO talks yet. Till Wednesday evening no resultion was in sight on any of the major issues on agenda. Neither the developed nations nor the developing countries relented on agriculture issues.  There does not seem to be a consensus on reducing subsidies on fishing either. India is adamant on not in favour of extending facility of duty-free imports for e-commerce companies, while the developed countries are pushing for it.

Seeing the situation in the talks, India has adopted a tough stance. In the statement issued by the Indian side, it has been said that until the old issues are resolved, new issues should not be included in the meeting. To save the multilateral system, developed countries will have to adopt a flexible approach.

According to sources, China, US and the European community are on target due to which there is a deadlock on many important proposals. There is no consensus on the most important issue of agricultural subsidies and grain procurement. Thursday is the last day of talks in which all efforts will be made to reach a consensus. Although the chances are not looking good.

India has said that developed countries do not fulfil the big promises made in WTO meetings. Even major decisions are not implemented in ministerial level talks, due to which the growth of less developed countries is affected. Developed countries are not doing justice to the basic spirit of WTO. In the multilateral system, members are given special facilities which are being opposed.

India’s statement is very strong which says that in the journey of global industrialisation, developed countries have prepared every type of policy keeping in mind their interests and even now they are doing the same. Developed countries are preventing others from following the path on which they have industrialsed.

In its statement, India said the least developed countries were disappointed with WTO. India said that the multilateral system of global trade is at a crossroads and there is a need to make it flexible.