India, Brazil set July deadline for breakthrough in world trade talks
14 Apr 2007
Mumbai:
India and Brazil, which represent the interests of developing
countries in the world trade talks, feel that differences
among key players will have to be ironed out by July
for successful conclusion of the Doha Round of negotiations.
"If one has to conclude negotiations by 2007-end,
we have to come to an agreement on modalities by July,
which means two-three months of very intensive work,"
Brazilian Minister of External Relations Celso Amorim
said at a CII seminar.
"We are in a decisive stage... A positive result
is possible and within reach. The modalities by July
are a real possibility," Amorim said.
No country or group had spelt out positions clearly
so far and only broad contours of an agreement were
emerging, he said.
An Indian commerce ministry official, meanwhile, said
that differences over tariff and subsidies among developing
and developed countries should be sorted out by the
end of June if "we want to conclude the Round by
end of 2007".
Brazil is a member of the Cairn Group of nations, which
are major exporters of agricultural goods and are demanding
freer trade in farm products. India, however, wants
to protect its farmers from cheap imports.
Six key WTO players, including India, Brazil, the US
and the European Union, who met in New Delhi had pledged
to conclude the much-delayed Doha Round of trade liberalisation
talks by the
end of this year.
Amorim also said while WTO may be tilted toward the
developed countries, it is still the "best that
we can have".
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