Brussels, 27/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - In an attempt to drag the Doha Round out of the quagmire, India has admitted that, “a middle ground has to be found”. Nonetheless, New Delhi is still opposed to compulsory participation in the liberalisation of all the industrial sectors targeted by the sectorals.
The disagreement between the US and the major emerging countries, led by Brazil, China and India, on the industrial chapter (particularly the sectoral agreements, which are aimed at gradually getting rid of customs duties in 14 key industrial sectors: cars, electronics, machines, toys, chemical products, textiles etc) has been identified by the head of the WTO, Pascal Lamy, as the main stumbling block preventing progress being made in the multinational negotiations in Geneva. Nevertheless, India, like its allies, is still refusing compulsory participation in the liberalisation of the proposed sectorals. On Wednesday 27 April, the Indian minister for trade, Arnand Sharma, explained that, “our position on sectorals is clear. While we're not saying that sectorals are no-go areas, we want the freedom to decide where we want to participate and where we don't”. Developed countries, particularly the US, are insisting that the major emerging countries agree to the elimination of tariffs on key industrial products through their compulsory participation in the sectorals, which the major emerging countries are opposing, arguing that these agreements are not within the scope of the Doha Round.
The 153 member countries of the WTO will have an opportunity to bring their positions closer together, firstly at ambassador level, during the WTO Trade Negotiating Committee on 29 April, then at trade ministers' level, during the OECD meeting at the end of May in Paris. (E.H./trans.fl)