“Everybody is watching closely developments in India. If the government collapses, it is possible that they may wrap up the talks,” an official said.

Those keenly watching the high voltage political events in India include the US, EU, Brazil, South Africa, China and the WTO Director General Pascal Lamy. Asked whether the mini-ninisterial meeting convened to work out a final framework for completing the Doha Round may be called off for the sake of one country, he said, “India is important in WTO and there cannot be a deal without it”. If Geneva talks are suspended, it could be blamed on fall-out of the political developments in New Delhi. “It suits those who do not want a deal. At least, there will not be a blame game,” the official said.

Union Commerce & Industry Minister Kamal Nath has returned to New Delhi for the confidence vote.  The country would be represented by Commerce Secretary G K Pillai at the negotiations.

PRESSURE ON

Cut farm sops, G-20 tells the rich nations

Geneva, pti: An influential G-20 alliance, spearheaded by India, Brazil and South Africa, on Monday, mounted pressure on rich nations to substantially cut their lavish farm support in the wake of change in the world commodity prices.

“It will be necessary to achieve effective cuts in overall trade distorting domestic subsidies, taking into account change in pattern of world prices and its impact on current level of domestic support subsidies,” a G-20 communique said here ahead of the meeting for reaching a consensus on Doha Round.