Mumbai: The European Union has offered to reduce agricultural subsidies by up to 60 per cent, prompting India to say that it too may be willing to negotiate the level of agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs beyond the range proposed in the WTO draft negotiations.

India, however, noted that its offer would depend on how far the rich countries are willing to go beyond the WTO draft negotiating text.

On the eve of the crucial WTO meeting of key trade ministers being held in Geneva, India said the level of cuts in agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs may be negotiated if there is consensus on both the developing and developed world.

''There are numbers in the text and whether we can go beyond is something that will be negotiated. It is possible on a few isolated cases that we may even go beyond numbers if there is a consensus among ministers," commerce secretary Gopal Pillai said after a meeting of the G-33 - the grouping of the developing countries.

If developed countries like the US go beyond the offer range (as given in the market access texts circulated in the WTO) for cutting farm and industrial tariffs, ''then anybody else can also go outside the numbers," he added.

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said the 60 per cent reduction in agricultural subsidies was the best offer yet from Brussels and urged emerging economies such as Brazil, India and China to reciprocate by slashing their industrial tariffs.

The US, however, wants the emerging economies to do more by trade liberalisation than asking for subsidy cuts.

''When it comes to trade negotiations, the vast overwhelming contribution has to come from market liberalisation rather than the subsidy side," US trade representative Susan Schwab said.

India and its G-33 grouping will spell out a vision tour for the entire agriculture and NAMA by tomorrow evening, Pillai said, adding, India will also present its list of offers and demands for market access in services at the WTO.

While services chair Fernando de Mateo of Mexico is expected to put out a text on services after the ministers' conference, Pillai said, ''at the moment there is nothing (in services). They are just good intentions.''

The World Trade Organisation has convened a five-day mini ministerial meeting beginning July 21 to infuse urgency into the long-running Doha trade talks.
Previous trade talks have failed over the issue of farm subsidies and tariffs and how far trade in services should be liberalised.

Ministers attending the crucial WTO talks says the outcome will also depend on the survival of the Manmohan Singh government which is seeking a confidence vote in Parliament.     

''Everybody is watching closely developments in India. If the government collapses, it is possible that they may wrap up the talks," an Indian official said.