The India in the trade and investment Shri Anand Sharma Minister listens to a question at a press conference on the Conference of the WTO in Nusa Dua, Bali, on December 5, 2013© AFP Sonny Tumbelaka
Nusa Dua (Indonesia) - India Thursday fi from pressure to compromise an overall impasse on food security which threw the future of the world Organization of trade in question.
Insistence of New Delhi be allowed to store and to subsidize grain for its millions of poor hungry people has emerged as a major obstacle to a WTO trade ministers conference in Bali.
The WTO warned that failure to reach a compromise on other issues and that could be a blow to the efforts 12 years required the body to remove trade barriers, which is at an impasse.
"This is a critical issue. We never compromise, "Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said reporters instead of the Conference on the Indonesian resort island.
The WTO launched its main "Doha Round" of talks in Qatar in 2001, aimed at creating an open commercial environment and rules that are fair to the rich and poor countries.
But protectionist disputes, particularly between the industrialized and developing, have made progress elusive.
New WTO Chief Roberto Azevedo of the Brazil pushes for an agreement in Bali on a package more modest touch on agricultural subsidies and other issues, hoping to save time so that Doha can be revived.
Activists protest the Conference of the WTO in Nusa Dua, Indonesia resort island of Bali, December 5, 2013© AFP Sonny Tumbelaka
With the clock on the Conference of four days, which ends Friday, have intensified their diplomatic efforts.
The Indonesian Minister of trade Gita Wirjawan, Chairman of the talks, said that he and Azevedo seek to negotiate a compromise between the India and the United States.
Washington and some other trading nations are said to feel that the Indian position violates the WTO limits on subsidies and fear cereal stocks could end up on world markets, prices of the inclination.
The crux of the impasse is the demand of New Delhi be made free of any WTO dispute around the issue indefinitely, while the Bali package would limit the exemption period.
"This does not mean that it is an impossible mission," said Wirjawan, which called for compromises in the comments that seemed intended to New Delhi.
Earlier Thursday, the European Commissioner for trade Karel De Gucht alluded to the possible movement behind closed doors.
"There was a change in the Indian position, but it is difficult to say what it might mean," said.
India ruling Congress Party is facing tough elections next year, but domestic political said Sharma were not a factor in its WTO position.
He framed the issue as a divide between industrialised countries and a world development he said, having regard to the rules of the WTO in favour of rich countries.
Head of delegation of the China WTO Yu Jianhua shakes hands with of the Indonesia's Minister of trade Gita Wirjawan (R) before a meeting on the sidelines of the Conference of the WTO on Bali on December 5, 2013© Adek Berry AFP
"The India speaks for the vast majority of people in developing countries and poor countries. The India is not alone, "he says.
However, Mark Kennedy, who heads the Graduate School of political management of George Washington University, said developing countries "appeared not to be rallying cry of the India.
"This is more as a matter of domestic policy for the India as a true commitment to be a leader for developing countries," said Kennedy, who also informed the Government of the United States on trade issues.
The trade ministers have issued stark warnings that a failure to close gaps in Bali would be hurt fatally waning influence of world of the WTO.
Azevedo has raised an alarm on other pacts between major trading nations, such as the trans-Pacific partnership of 12 countries pushed by Washington.
He said a trend in this direction would have "tragic consequences" for countless poor in the world developing countries are struggling to compete on the world market.
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