WTO interim solution must continue till permanent measure is achieved: Rob Davies

Q&A with South African trade minister

South African trade minister Rob Davies today supported India's stance that the interim measure on public stockholding for food security should be continued till a permanent solution is agreed upon. In an interview with Nayanima Basu on the sidelines of the ninth ministerial conference (MC9) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Bali. Excerpts:

As one of the India's key allies within IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) grouping, do you support India's position of continuing the interim till a permanent is achieved?
We are not the protagonists. We do not have a public security food programme. But we have said that it is important that core developing countries, not just India, must have the right to have public food stock programmes not just for a while but in the longer term and that a relationship between an interim solution and a permanent solution must be one that provides certainty. If a balance has to be struck then it has to be done in favour of poor, low-income people who can benefit from food security programmes across the world.

But somehow surprisingly a major difference of opinion has emerged with G-33 countries on this particular proposal.

Well I have not been privy to the negotiations on this particular provision, I am told we will get a report on it tonight.

What is South Africa's stand on the trade facilitation agreement (TFA)? Are you on board with India on that?
We are implementing and have already implemented some. We will live with it. Whatever happens in Bali we need to see that a correct programme is implemented. We trying to strike a balance in implementing the programme and put in place the system.

What if the Bali package fails?
We do not want the Bali package to fail. And we do not think even if that happens, the WTO will be finished. It will just be a consequence. We will have to pick up the pieces but ultimately we will have to see that development is happening.