Eliminate Ag Subsidies Before Accessing Markets

NEW DELHI - Oct 8/04 - SNS -- Agricultural subsidies need to be completely eliminated in developed countries such as the United States, European Union member states, and Canada before they demand access to markets in developing countries like India, argues Shri Kamal Nath, India's Minister of Commerce & Industry.

He made the comments at an international conference on "Liberalization and the Future of Agricultural Policy" organized by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) in Paris last evening.

Signalling India’s approach in the detailed negotiations for modalities following the conclusion of the WTO Draft Framework Agreement of July in the current Doha Round, Shri Kamal Nath emphasized that for India agriculture would remain the core factor in determining how quickly progress was made in the modalities negotiations in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). He also stressed the interests of major corporations should not drive the WTO negotiations.

"Governments have more recently resolved at Geneva to uphold the legitimate food and livelihood security and rural development needs of developing countries in the agriculture negotiations," Shri Kamal Nath said.

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