“Yes, we intend to hold a ministerial meeting around November 15 to evaluate the situation in the Doha Round and what the members must do to conclude the negotiations,” Brazilian trade envoy to World Trade Organization Ambassador Clodoaldo Hugueney told Deccan Herald on Friday. He said though the dates for the meeting are yet to be confirmed, in all likelihood it will take place around November 15 to review the state of play in Doha trade negotiations. Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is expected to take part in the G-20 meeting which will give broad direction to what its members must do in their response to the revised draft modalities that will be submitted around mid-November.

Special safeguards
Trade negotiators will commence a final week of consultations starting from Monday on agriculture in which India’s core concerns in special products and special safeguard mechanism in the Doha agriculture package are expected to be discussed.

Until now, United States which is required to bring down its trade-distorting domestic subsidies to a level between US$13 billion and US$16.4 billion has not clearly responded what it intends to do. India, which is spearheading Group of 33 countries coalition, plans submitting fresh proposal on how to address the special products and special safeguard mechanism.