India should consider the present negotiations under the Doha round of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) a success only if they result in the developed countries reducing or eliminating domestic subsidies to agriculture, according to Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).CII said that only then can many distortions in international trade be removed, in the process raising international prices of agricultural commodities to remunerative levels. This will go a long way in ensuring stability of income for farmers in developing countries.The above are key findings of a CII position paper submitted to the government for India’s negotiating position on agriculture.CII has expressed a view that the current negotiation should first focus on getting developed countries to make substantial commitments to reduce or eliminate domestic support and export subsidies, and then move on to market access. The Chamber feels such commitments to the satisfaction of countries like India could facilitate the latter to make commitments on market access. At the same time, India should also ask for better market access opportunities for Indian exportable agricultural commodities to developed and developing countries.CII also believes modifications are required to the second draft paper submitted by WTO’s agriculture council chairman Stuart Harbinson.
