No change in India's WTO stand, says Commerce Secretary

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) India, which is hosting the WTO
ministerial meeting here next month, Tuesday said it would not
compromise on food and livelihood security of the developing
countries while negotiating the Doha trade deal.

"Food and livelihood security of the poor is critical to
the developing countries and cannot be compromised under any
circumstances...," Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said,
adding that the New Delhi informal trade ministers' meeting
was not meant for hard core negotiations but to build a broad
based consensus.

The meeting to be attended by all major groupings like
the G-20 led by Brazil, African Group led by Egypt, the US
and the European Union, would not come out with any
declaration, he said.

Khullar said the meeting on September 3-4 was aimed at
resumptions of the WTO talks which got snapped at Geneva in
July 2008.

"We will not go for a declaration...you will get a
summary (of the Chair)," Khullar told reporters.

The meeting to be chaired by India's Commerce and
Industry Minister Anand Sharma would in all have 36 trade
ministers.

The Commerce Secretary said India is taking the
initiative for resumption of WTO talks as it feels that
opening of the world trade at multilateral level was crucial
for revival of the global economy.

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has
faced criticism from the Opposition which alleged that India
was diluting its tough stand at the WTO negotiations. PTI RR
ANU