India lauds Doha revival as WTO pushes through package

WTO declaration accepts India's demand for continuing with interim measure until permanent solution to allow more leg-room to buy food at administered prices

Even as desperation started creeping in, trade ministers from 159 member countries who had gathered in the Indonesia island resort held on to till the last moment, as World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevêdo pronounced the Bali package was "agreed and adopted", amid loud cheers and deafening applause.

"The World Trade Organization has come alive today. In recent weeks, the WTO is doing what it should be - negotiating, working and compromising. We have put 'World' back in the World Trade Organization. I challenged you all to show political will to cross the finishing line and you did," said an emotional Azevêdo, as he declared the closure of the ninth ministerial conference (MC9).

Azevêdo underscored the Bali package was the first step towards realising the goals of free and liberalised trade under the Doha round of negotiations, which started in 2001. "This package is not an end, but the beginning. It is a step towards the completion of the Doha development agenda. We have strengthened multilateralism," he said.

Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, also the chair of MC9, stressed the Bali package negotiated a package on food security that would provide food to millions of poor around the world, a deal on trade facilitation agreement that would induce $1 trillion into the economy and a package that would help least developed countries prosper through more exports. "These are historic achievements, but the race is not over," said an elated Wirjawan.

The final ministerial declaration accepted India's demand for continuing with the interim solution until a permanent one was arrived at to the problem of allowing the government more leg-room to buy food at administered prices, as part of their food stockholding programmes, which isn't allowed under existing rules.

"The Doha round was lying moribund till 2008. India has played a major role in the revival and re-energising of the Doha round. The Bali declaration is a step forward in the conclusion of the Doha round," said Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma.

The draft declaration, officially adopted by MC9 in the morning, also stated the interim measure would be applicable "in relation to support provided for traditional staple food crops in pursuance of public stockholding programmes for food security purposes existing as of the date of this decision".

A final deal on trade facilitation and a beneficial package for least developed countries were also sealed.

For India, the trade facilitation agreement will entail legislative changes. It will be given financial assistance and adequate time to bring about these changes.