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India not to compromise at WTO: Nath
 
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April 05, 2006 19:29 IST

India, on Wednesday, categorical said that it would not accept any injustice at the World Trade Organisation, adding that emerging economies should not be asked to pay the price for successful conclusion of a deal.

Briefing newsmen after a two-hour meeting with WTO director general Pascal Lamy, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said Indian farmers had no place in the global trading system due to enormous agriculture subsidies provided by developed countries leading to distortion of markets.

'India must be flexible on industrial tariff'

"I have highlighted that agriculture in India is not commercial (activity) but a way of life and no deal that led to its displacement was acceptable," Nath said.

Nath said any tariff reduction commitment must take these sensitivities on board and that is why developing countries under the aegis of G-20 had proposed special products and special safeguard mechanism.

Pointing that India had medium, small and infant industries, he said developed countries had taken many years to nurture their industries and New Delhi was doing the same.

Nath said, he had emphasised at the meeting that timeline established for concluding a deal should not be compromised.

"We would still like to see it happen by April 30," Nath said.

Lamy said there is a General Council meeting on April 18 in Geneva and if there is forward movement a ministerial meeting could follow.

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