'Clubbing environment with trade wrong'

India on Thursday strongly opposed any move to mix environment issues with trade talks, saying such a mixture could upset developing countries' trade agenda.

"Environment is a separate subject and there are multilateral forums. . .that's the place where they (environment) go. When you try to blend them, the mix can be combustible," commerce secretary Rahul Khullar told reporters in New Delhi.

Khullar, who is India's chief negotiator at World Trade Organization, said that efforts are being made to push non-trade related issues like environment through the 'back door' in the multi-lateral talks for a global trade deal.

". . .environment related issues are being brought on international agenda and. . .there are serious moves to bring it through the back door into the WTO," he said.

However, he said the environment issue may not come up in the ongoing Doha Round of global trade talks.

"I don't think they will come up during the Doha talks but the problem is (that) it is too much in the air already and it is not possible any longer to pretend that this Will not happen. . .2-3 years from now this (environment) will be a live issue, we better be ready," he said."

Developed economies like the US and EU are contemplating certain rules in relation to trade and environment which will have a significant implication for their border trade measures such as carbon taxation system for imports.

The commerce ministry on Thursday released booklets aimed at starting 'intellectual debates' on compatibility of green laws with the WTO rules.

European Union, which is negotiating a free trade deal with India wants inclusion of environment and labour related issues in the pact, while New Delhi is opposed to the idea. Commenting on the ongoing WTO negotiations at Geneva, Khullar said that clear signals are not coming from the WTO headquarters where officials are deliberating on crucial issues of agriculture and industrial goods.

"Yes it (the negotiations) does not look bright," he said, adding that if modalities (a general agreement) are not ready by July then the much-delayed Doha Round of talks may not be completed in 2010.

The Doha Round of talks that started in 2001 have missed several deadlines as rich nations like the US and developing economies like India and China differ on reduction in tariffs and market access for agricultural and industrial goods.