SME Times is powered by   
Search News
Just in:   • Adani Group to invest Rs 57,575 crore in Odisha  • 'Dollar Distancing' finally happening? Time for India to pitch Rupee as credible alternative: SBI Ecowrap  • 49% Indian startups now from tier 2, 3 cities: Jitendra Singh  • 'India ranks 3rd in global startup ecosystem & number of unicorns'  • LinkedIn lays off entire global events marketing team: Report 
Last updated: 27 Sep, 2014  

WTO.Thmb.jpg Clear Indian imprint & win at Bali global trade talks

bali-wto-2013.jpg
   Top Stories
» 49% Indian startups now from tier 2, 3 cities: Jitendra Singh
» 'India ranks 3rd in global startup ecosystem & number of unicorns'
» Tripura exported over 9K tonnes of pineapples in 2 years
» CPI inflation eases to 6.71% in July, IIP falls to 12.3%
» Rupee depreciates 12 paise to close at 79.64 against US dollar
Arvind Padmanabhan | 07 Dec, 2013
The landmark trade reform deal reached Saturday at Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali leaves a distinct Indian imprint in ensuring that the rights of an emerging economy in addressing its food security concerns cannot be sidestepped just to show some movement forward for a rule-based global commerce.

At the core of the make-or-break deal, clinched after four days of hectic parleys and beyond among the trade ministers of 159 member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is the right to overshoot the agreed cap on food subsidy and stockpiling to feed the poor.

The rich nations, led vociferously by the US and European Union, put forth what is called a peace clause permitting developing countries to overshoot their food subsidy cap of 10 percent of nation income - but for a maximum period of four years.

This was unacceptable to India till the very end.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma who led the Indian side would just not relent, even as he was all but branded a deal-breaker and some other emerging countries began to relent during their parleys, notably with the US, on the margins of the Ministerial Meeting.

In fact, according to some interlocutors, Sharma kept Prime Minister Manmohan Singh informed at each stage through the negotiations - sometimes quite late into the night - and he had his boss' full backing till the very end.

The other side had to relent. Once it became clear that the final outcome was in India's favour an informal cabinet approval, too, was sought when it met in Parliament House to condole the death of Nelson Mandela.

There were some other frustrating moments when Cuba said no to the proposal. This could also have killed the pact since under the WTO charter all decisions have to be consensus-based - with no room for majority decisions.

But Washington managed to convince Havana with what diplomats says was a side deal.

Thus, for the first time since the Geneva-headquartered WTO came into being on Jan 1, 2005 it could claim success for a trade-reform deal that, by some estimates, promises to add some $1 trillion to the global economy and create and create some 21 million jobs, nearly 18 million in developing nations.

"For the first time in its history, the World Trade Organisation has finally delivered," the new WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo told the extended meeting's closing ceremony, barely able to conceal his tears.

"We withstood pressure and didn't blink at all," said Sharma - who was summoned several times by summit chairman and Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan to the venue, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre, when the deal appeared to be going nowhere. "It was a war of nerves."

Broadly, the impact of the agreement reached in the Balinese island resort on India is on two counts, both favourable to the extent possible. First, on food security. Second, on trade facilitation.

Now, India won't be dragged to the WTO if its food subsidy level exceeds the cap of 10 percent of nation output, nor will it be legally faulted if it resorts to such farmer-friendly measures as minimum support price for procurement of grain and lentils.

Politically, the much-touted food security law - which the Congress party believes will be a game changer in the upcoming national elections - appears safe from international scrutiny and the poor can be provided subsidised grain, beyond acceptable subsidy level.

On trade facilitation, Indian exporters will stand to gain from easier port clearances and lower transaction costs as rich nations, especially the EU members, will have to ease their tough rules, which had earned them the epithet "Fortress Europe".

For this, the Bali Ministerial Declaration agrees to the establishment of a preparatory committee on trade facilitation, which will be overseen by the General Council, the second-highest forum of WTO after the Ministerial Conference, to ensure expeditious implementation.

For the record, the current global trade talks - called the Doha Development Round after it was kick-started in the Qatari capital in 2001 - is far from over. Far more contentious issues remain to be revolved.

Yet, Bali was a movement forward. After eight Ministerial Conferences, one each in Singapore, Seattle, Doha, Cancun and Hong Kong, and thrice in Geneva, the 9th one at Nusa Dua has shown WTO can still deliver - and emerging economies can no longer be taken lightly.
 
Print the Page Add to Favorite
 
Share this on :
 

Please comment on this story:
 
Subject :
Message:
(Maximum 1500 characters)  Characters left 1500
Your name:
 

bali pact
Mahadevan | Sun Dec 22 07:38:53 2013
what are the disadvantages of this pact


 
  Customs Exchange Rates
Currency Import Export
US Dollar
66.20
64.50
UK Pound
87.50
84.65
Euro
78.25
75.65
Japanese Yen 58.85 56.85
As on 13 Aug, 2022
  Daily Poll
PM Modi's recent US visit to redefine India-US bilateral relations
 Yes
 No
 Can't say
  Commented Stories
» GIC Re's revenue from obligatory cession threatened(1)
 
 
About Us  |   Advertise with Us  
  Useful Links  |   Terms and Conditions  |   Disclaimer  |   Contact Us  
Follow Us : Facebook Twitter