SME Times News Bureau | 10 Apr, 2013
Union Commerce and
Industry Minister Anand Sharma pitched for a "balanced package" for
the least developed and developing countries in the WTO's forthcoming talks at
the ministerial level which is scheduled for in December in Bali.
Anand Sharma, who is in Geneva, discussed the
roadmap to Bali Ministerial meeting with key Ambassadors to WTO. Sharma is at
the World Intellectual Property Organisation Headquarters for a High Level
Policy Dialogue.
Sharma said that while India is not opposed to Trade
Facilitation, there is a need for an internal balance in the Trade Facilitation
proposal with adequate special and differential treatment for developing
countries and LDCs and Small and Vulnerable Economies.
He also argued for providing technical and financial support
to such economies so that they benefit from trade facilitation.
The Minister also supported a LDC Package including Duty
Free Quota Free market access, which countries like India and China have
already implemented, must be part of the Bali package.
Underscoring the fact that emerging economies have to carry a disproportionate
burden of poverty and huge income disparities Sharma said that they therefore
merit a special and preferential treatment.
Sharma mentioned that India strongly endorses G-33 proposal
for food security and flexibility in their public stock holding operations for
public distribution system. The interest of subsistence farmers in developing
and poor countries have to be recognized and protected, said Shri Sharma.
Taking note of emerging plurilateral arrangements, the Minister strongly
emphasized the need to uphold the centrality of multilateralism and WTO as an
institution for creating a rule-based global trading regime.
The 9th WTO Ministerial Conference will take place from
December 3-6 in Bali. The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making
body of the 158-member multi-lateral Organisation which meets at least every
two years.