WTO talks enter overtime as consensus on agri issues elusive

Reports also indicated talks could be extended by a day to allow trade ministers to reach a workable solution

Negotiations over crucial issues like agricultural trade policies and market access entered overtime continuing late into Friday night at the World Trade Organization’s ongoing ministerial conference in Nairobi.

Till the time of this story going to press, negotiations have remained deadlocked on the last day of the four day international conference after the developed bloc took a hard stance on the issue of public stockholding of food crops and special safeguards in agriculture.

Developing countries, on the other hand led by India and the G-33 grouping of nations have also remained firm on position. A last ditch attempt at securing the long demanded Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) which allows countries to temporarily raise tariffs to deal with surging imports and subsequent price falls had been made early Friday evening.

While host country Kenya maintained there is no crisis and talks would conclude within the scheduled timeframe, reports suggest talks started breaking down after the United States started demanding the final ministerial declaration refrain from committing to the Doha Development Agenda in.

The ministerial deliberations had started late at night and could not conclude till the time of this story going to press.

Although Commerce and Industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a bilateral meeting with US trade representative Michael Froman on Thursday, the details have not been made public yet.

On Thursday, the preliminary draft text on agriculture had effectively diluted India’s calls for a permanent solution to public stockholding with no clear deadline being mentioned.

The draft had said negotiations on the issue shall continue to be pursued as a priority in the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session, in dedicated sessions and in an accelerated time-frame. It also added that the WTO General Council shall regularly review progress.

The creation of special safeguards in farm trade, had been agreed nominally but on the condition that developing nations grant greater market access in farm goods through reduced tariffs.

Developing countries have demanded that a provision already existing in Article 5 of the multilateral body’s Agreement on Agriculture be amended to provide them the same benefit that rich countries derive from the Special (Agricultural) Safeguards (SSGs).

On the other hand, in the area of export competition pushed by a number of developed and agriculture goods exporting countries, the draft is more definite and talks about specific commitments on elimination of subsidies.

Afterwards Sitharaman had said, “We are submitting a draft ministerial text with a language suitable for India. There will be no new issues unless the Doha agenda is fulfilled.’

India had also junked the six page draft ministerial released later that day arguing it represented an obvious bias against developing countries.

However, India is keeping its ‘fingers crossed’ with Sitharaman tweeting late on Friday, “Indian team working positively in all negotiating track.” She added, negotiations had gone on till 3 o’clock in the morning during the night before.

While India has been accused of blocking the talks, Sitharaman  defended the countries position saying the fight was for millions of poor farmers not only in the country but across the developing world.

Rumours have also been reported that talks could be extended by a day to allow time to trade ministers to reach a workable solution.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström in her blog said it was quite improbable the conference would be finished on schedule. She added many negotiators had rebooked outbound flights to their home countries during the weekend.

In the meantime, the blame game has now spread globally and set social media buzzing with competing twitter hashtags like ‘#IndiaStandsBehindFarmers’ and ‘#IndiaBlocksTrade’.