BUENOS AIRES: The 11th World Trade Organisation ministerial conference talks ended with the ministers refusing to agree to even a declaration, reflecting the huge gap between the 164 members.
Although a decision to address India's concerns over public stockholding of food grains was expected, the plan had to be abandoned after the US failed to back it. On Wednesday, the Americans blocked attempts to work out reforms in farm trade putting the entire ministerial meeting in jeopardy.
While WTO secretariat and the Argentinian team of organisers sought to salvage a deal, India refused to play ball as the proposed declaration was short of its expectations given that it did not mention continuation of the Doha Round of talks or maintaining special treatment for developing countries.
Government officials, however, claimed victory saying that they had managed to prevent any deal on e-commerce or new issues such as investment facilitation but acknowledged that India's aggressive interests could not find a solution.
"We plan to move ahead with what's on the table in Geneva (at the WTO headquarters)," said an official.
A solution on food security would have meant that the developing countries could continue with minimum support price-type schemes without fearing a breach of the ceiling of 10% of the value of production. But Indian officials said that there is no worry on that count as the WTO members had agreed to a permanent peace clause that guarantees protection from any action even if the cap is scaled.
Although a decision to address India's concerns over public stockholding of food grains was expected, the plan had to be abandoned after the US failed to back it. On Wednesday, the Americans blocked attempts to work out reforms in farm trade putting the entire ministerial meeting in jeopardy.
While WTO secretariat and the Argentinian team of organisers sought to salvage a deal, India refused to play ball as the proposed declaration was short of its expectations given that it did not mention continuation of the Doha Round of talks or maintaining special treatment for developing countries.
Government officials, however, claimed victory saying that they had managed to prevent any deal on e-commerce or new issues such as investment facilitation but acknowledged that India's aggressive interests could not find a solution.
"We plan to move ahead with what's on the table in Geneva (at the WTO headquarters)," said an official.
A solution on food security would have meant that the developing countries could continue with minimum support price-type schemes without fearing a breach of the ceiling of 10% of the value of production. But Indian officials said that there is no worry on that count as the WTO members had agreed to a permanent peace clause that guarantees protection from any action even if the cap is scaled.
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