New Delhi, September 03: India today sought to infuse urgency for concluding the Doha Round of talks, as WTO members endorsed the view that liberalising trade could give a boost to the crisis-ridden world economy.
Hosting a crucial meeting of over 35 trade minister, India said that “there are still a few gaps and a large number of unresolved issues”. Chairing the meeting, Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma felt that “a positive roadmap would be visible by tomorrow”.
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy also hoped that the Delhi meeting would prove to be the beginning of the end game for Doha Round”. But he wanted the ministers to do more work to build a political consensus.
The ministers from the US, EU, Brazil, China, Egyp Argentina, Australia and New Zealand among others pressed for building on the consensus that has been achieved in the last seven years so that the world economy suffering from the worst crisis can benefit from trade liberalisation.
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said that in some degree New Delhi?s capabilities to take a big initiative were under estimated. “India is sending a signal that it wants to play a leadership role to help move Doha Round,” he said.
Trade ministers representing different groups hailed India for showing a leadership role to revive the multilateral talks which ended in a deadlock in July 2008 in Geneva over farmers protection. .
—Agencies