India threatens to block WTO trade facilitation deal

Delhi wants solution to food clause; West angry with India

New Delhi: India on Friday threatened to block the deal on trade facilitation being pushed by the developed countries at the WTO until its concerns on food

security are met. WTO members are meeting in Geneva to pass part of a package of deals reached last December in Bali by a July 31 deadline. However, what has angered India is that while trade facilitation agreement to ease custom rules was being pushed, no attention was given to its concerns on food subsidy and food security issues as

promised earlier.

India on Friday threatened to block the deal on trade facilitation being pushed by the developed countries at the WTO until its concerns on food security are met. WTO members are meeting in Geneva to pass part of a package of deals reached last December in Bali by a July 31 deadline.

However, what has angered India is that while trade facilitation agreement to ease custom rules was being pushed, no attention was given to its concerns on food subsidy and food security issues as promised earlier.

India wants the limit on subsidy on food set by WTO be enhanced as the country has to look after a huge population of poor.

“My delegation is of the view that the adoption of the trade facili- tation protocol be postponed till a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security is found,” said India at the general council meeting.

India said that it is of the view that the trade facilitation agreement must be implemented only as part of a single undertaking including the permanent solution on food security.

“We believe this is a simple issue which can be addressed very quickly. This is important so that the millions of farmers and the poor families who depend on domestic food stocks do not have to live in con- stant fear. To jeopardise the food security of millions at the altar of a mere anomaly in the rules is unacceptable,” said India.

India said that discussions on the Bali decision on public stockholding have not even commenced despite repeated requests by the G- 33 and the proposals already on the table.

“As a consequence, even seven months after Bali, we do not have the required confidence and trust that there will be constructive engagement on issues that impact the livelihood of a very significant part of the global population,” said India.

However, developed countries including United States have attacked India saying that India led ultimatum to unravel a WTO deal struck in Bali last December would end global trade reform efforts.