WTO Chief says Mittal-Arcelor issue not his concern

New Delhi, Apr 6 (UNI) WTO Chief Pascal Lamy today said the Mittal-Arcelor takeover row was outside the purview of the World Trade Organisation since the multilateral setup did not deal with the rules on investment and competition.

''The issue is not WTO related. We have no WTO rules on investment, takeover, or competetion policies,'' Mr Lamy told reporters here.

India has been suggesting that European countries including France and Luxembourg have been working against the National Treatment provided in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the WTO.

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath had earlier taken up the issue with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Mr Nath had stated that attempts to thwart the bid violated EU's commitment to the WTO accord, which provided for national treatment to cross-border investment.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too had taken up the issue with French President Jacques Chirac during his visit to India in February.

President Chirac had denied that Mittal's attempt was being blocked on account of racism.

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