Ioc Tells Govt To Contain Oil Pool Deficit

Four working groups on agriculture, new issues, market access and implementation of the Singapore declaration, are to be set up to resolve the deadlock in trade negotiations. This was disclosed to the Indian delegation by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Mike Moore.

Moore sought the Indian delegation's support to take the discussions forward. Though India has signalled its acceptance of a working group, it continues to be firm on its current stand.

On Sunday, most countries stuck to their views. "Basically, everyone is posturing. The action will begin from dayafter tomorrow," WTO officials said.

On its part, the Indian delegation has kicked off its bilateral and multilateral discussions in earnest. While a secretary-level round of talks has already been conducted with other Saarc countries, discussions with G-15 leaders are slated for today.

At the Saarc leaders' meeting, it was decided that a common stand should be formulated on contentious issues like introduction of environment and labour in the agenda for the millennium round of trade talks.

US president Bill Clinton is slated to be in Seattle tomorrow for the inaugural session of the ministerial meeting. Non-governmental organisations, which have taken a stranglehold on the city, have ordered a Seattle-walk-out on the same day. All Seattle residents have been approached to walk out of their offices on the day to protest against the Seattle round of talks.