WTO meet starts; agriculture key issue for developing nations

The WTO meeting today kick started here with members such as Kenya pitching for resolution of important issues like agriculture of the long-stalled Doha Round.
India too is continuously pitching for conclusion of the pending issues of the Doha Round like providing special safeguard mechanism (SSM) to developing nations to protect interest of poor farmers.
Addressing media, Chair of the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Amina Mohamed said that the core issues which have been under negotiation as part of the Doha Round are important.
"They remain important and they will continue to be. Indeed, agriculture plays a fundamental role in many of the world's economy and we must do all we can to ensure that these issues are addressed," she said.

She expressed hope that all WTO Members will be able to come together and map a way forward for the WTO.
Speaking at the opening session of the WTO meeting, Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasised on the importance of the issues of the Doha Round.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Kenyan President statement has given a very powerful opening to the meeting.
India and several other developing countries want the developed countries to reduce their farm subsidies and provide a tool, special safeguard mechanism (SSM), to protect poor farmers of developing nations from sudden surge in imports or dip in global prices.

Speaking at the opening session, WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo said that the members should aim high and reach an agreement on Doha Round.
Earlier in the day, Azevedo said: "When we left Geneva, negotiators were still working to finalise deals that could include - steps on agriculture and food security, measures to improve transparency in some WTO agreements, a number of steps on special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries".
He said that to succeed, all Members will have to be flexible, realistic and ready to engage.
Security arrangements are in place for the four-day WTO meeting which will end on December 18.