Charging that the negotiating texts on opening markets have given “carve-outs” to the US and EU, Union Commerce & Industry Minister Kamal Nath said “there is no hope or scope of any concessions which will compromise India’s industries like engineering, chemicals, textiles, automobiles. Provisions for their protection (in July 2004 Framework Agreement and Hong Kong Declaration) cannot be diluted. If this means a breakdown (of talks), so be it,” Mr Nath said here.

“The US & EU have already been given carve-outs in July 10 texts as if they were developing countries...They cannot get carve-outs like LDCs. We oppose these,” he told reporters after a series of bilateral meetings.

Subsidy cut

The July 10 WTO draft on agriculture has extended the base period for calculation of the subsidy cut in a way that would enable the US to give at least $5 billion extra doles to its farmers, a senior commerce ministry official said. Similarly tariff caps have been worked out in a manner to help the rich nations, he said.

The World Trade Organisation is convening a five-day mini-Ministerial Meeting from July 21 for negotiating on two sets of proposals circulated on May 19 and July 10. The drafts, prepared by the negotiating groups on agriculture and industrial goods, have evoked strong reactions from India and several developing other countries.

Mr Nath, who attended a meeting of G-33, said the agriculture alliance of the developing countries “remains united on the issue of livelihood security of farmers.”