India keeps option to walk out of Doha talks open

Senior trade ministers from 30 countries are meeting in Geneva from July 21 to 26 to discuss a deal on agriculture as well as Nama.

Speaking to reporters today, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said: "There will be no deal if we do not get what we want. Coalitions like G-20 or the Nama-11 are intact. We have full option to walk out," Nath said.

He is scheduled to meet trade ministers from the US, EU, China and Brazil on July 19, after which he will fly down to India the next day. He will join the Indian mini-ministerial meeting only on July 23, as the UPA government is seeking a trust vote in Parliament on July 22.

Apart for issues in Nama and agriculture, India wants to have market access in services sector markets globally. A signaling conference on services has been scheduled in Geneva, at the sidelines of the mini-ministerial meeting. "Unless there are binding commitments in services, there would be no Doha deal," said Nath.

According to experts, services is the only sector, where India has offensive interests. This is because the Indian services sector has international competitive advantage and accounts for 55 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the nation. Moreover, it employs 142,000 people and accounts for 30 per cent of total exports from India. According to Nath, the sector accounted for $ 86 billion worth of exports in 2007-08.

"Our demands are not regarding immigration, but domestic regulations in countries of our interest create problem in movement of out professionals. Our interest lies in sectors like health, research and development, engineering, constructions as well as computers," Nath said.

Elaborating India's stand on issues related to agriculture, Nath said "The Special Safeguards Mechanism and Special Products (measures to protecting farm sector from imports) are not negotiable. They are make-or-break issues."

Nath also said that India is willing to consider proposals on sectoral negotiations (sectors which will see zero duty, if the Doha Round is successfully concluded) only after consulting industry.

"We will have to study the proposals first and discuss them with industry. India has interests in the gems and jewellery sector on the issue," added Nath.

Moreover, he termed the proposal on