'India may change stand on US farm subsidies'

Even as the food prices continue to soar, India may have to change its stand on farm subsidies by the US, Prime Minister's media advisor Sanjay Baru has hinted today.

Speaking at a convention in the capital, Baru said, "The rising food and commodity prices will have serious implications on our strategy of food import. India's position in World Trade Organisation (WTO) on farm subsidies by the US might change. We may not be able to make the same argument against the US subsidies."

India is among the leading nations opposed to the farm subsidies given by the US government for domestic production. For a long time, India has registered its protests with the WTO against these subsidies.

In a convention organised by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Baru said, "In future, if we are turning more and more towards imports of food, then US subsidies will eventually help us."

He also added that apart from rising food prices, the other two major challenges before India are energy security and global financial management.