Commerce Ministry rebuts BJP points on WTO

A day after BJP leaders criticised the government on the Hong Kong meet of the WTO, the Commerce Ministry has issued a point-by-point rebutt...

A day after BJP leaders criticised the government on the Hong Kong meet of the WTO, the Commerce Ministry has issued a point-by-point rebuttal to BJP’s criticism.

The rebuttal comes after Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath defended the Hong Kong Agreement in RS yesterday. The statment said, ‘‘It is manifest that the BJP has not fully understood the implications of this matter for developing countries like India. Both the July 2004 Framework Agreement and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration signed on by the Government are actually incremental steps in a continuum.’’

In agriculture, the ministry pointed out that the July Framework had agreed to incorporate Special Products and Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSMs) to protect poor farmers in developing countries. The Hong Kong Declaration has now agreed to developing countries having the right to self-designate which products constitute Special Products.

Story continues below this ad

On export subsidies, it said it has secured a commitment from heavy export subsidisers to eliminate the substantial part of subsidies half way through the Doha Round, and not at its fag end as alleged by the BJP.

Export subsidies on cotton will be eliminated in 2006. Also developing country export subsidies related to marketing and transport can continue for five years beyond the end-date.