India, US clash on WTO industry text

In the continuing tug-of-war over the latest Doha draft modalities (parameters) text on how to liberalise industrial goods, India, along with South Africa and other developing countries, yesterday crossed swords with the United States and the European Union at the World Trade Organisation.

India's trade envoy, Ambassador Ujal Singh Bhatia, issued a strong notice that if there is no third revised text which fully addresses the grave lacunae as well as developmental deficiencies in the latest draft, it would be difficult for members to enter into horizontal meetings that WTO chief Pascal Lamy wants to convene next month.

The horizontal meetings are expected to fine-tune the tradeoffs between agriculture and non-agriculture market access (Nama) commitments.

Bhatia said the latest draft failed to live up to the Doha mandate on how to secure more market access for developing countries. He cited four core principles