WTO: India says no convergence on export competition pact

Nairobi: With rich countries pushing for a deal at WTO on phasing out export subsidies, India yesterday asserted there is little convergence of views among members of the global trade body on this issue and objected to any such pact without a permanent solution to farm subsidies.
“We are disappointed at the cavalier manner in which these issues are being pushed into the future. On the other hand, there is a sudden inexplicable zeal to harvest Export Competition. On this we are told that there is convergence when in fact, there appears to be little,” Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday said at the Plenary Session here.

The European Union and some other countries, including Brazil, are seeking a deal on export competition during the ongoing WTO’s Ministerial meeting here. Sitharaman’s statement counters the claims being made in some quarters here about emergence of a consensus on the issue.

Developed countries, which are accused of giving huge ‘trade-distorting’ farm subsidies, want emerging nations like India to take greater commitments in terms of reducing their export support. “We’re on the verge of an important agreement on agricultural export competition,” the UK said.