At WTO negotiations on agriculture and fish subsidies on the second day of the 13th ministerial conference, New Delhi in its submission said agreements where richer nations acquire access rights to fishing in poorer countries’ waters must be treated as subsidies.
“Food security is national security for us. India is keen on resolution of issues based on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as well as Special and Differential Treatment,” said an official from the Indian delegation.
India said that without a permanent solution on the public stockholding issue, the most critical and long-pending mandated issue at the WTO, developing countries’ fight against hunger cannot be won. “If any discussion on reduction of domestic support commitments takes place, the process should start with eliminating subsidies for countries who provide massive subsidies on a per capita basis,” the government said in a statement.
“We are not blocking any consensus, but the approach has to be correct so that there is equity in fair trade. We are not willing to give up our sovereign rights,” the official said.
(The reporter is in Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the commerce and industry ministry)
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
