India for early conclusion of WTO talks

New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Ahead of the WTO meeting
convened here with an aim to ending deadlock over global trade
talks, India Monday said its early successful conclusion was
essential to restore the confidence in the global economy and
markets in view of the financial crisis.

"I would like to stress that timely and successful
conclusion of the Doha Round (of WTO talks) on the basis of
its development mandate is even more important today
particularly in the backdrop of the global economic and
financial crisis to restore confidence in the global economy
and markets," India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna
said.

"The timely conclusion of the talks is important also to
guard against emerging protectionist tendencies and to protect
the livelihoods of the poor and marginalised, particularly in
our rural sectors", he said while inaugurating the two-day
conclave of Indian envoys here.

The Doha Round of talks, launched in 2001, has missed
several deadlines mainly because of strong divergent positions
of India and the US over agriculture subsidy, protection to
farmers and nascent industries in developing countries.

India has spearheaded different groupings like G20, G-33
and NAMA (Non-Agriculture Market Access)-11 of developing
countries.

With an aim to end the deadlock, a mini-ministerial
meeting has been convened here on September 3-4 in which trade
ministers from over 75 countries will participate. PTI